Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31
दीक्षितपुत्रस्य दैन्यचिन्ता तथा शिवरात्र्युपासनाप्रसङ्गः / The Initiate’s Son in Distress and the Occasion of Śivarātri Worship
यूयं प्रमाणं धर्मेषु यथा न च तथा वयम् । अस्ति चेद्धर्मलेशोस्य गणास्तं शृणुमो वयम्
yūyaṃ pramāṇaṃ dharmeṣu yathā na ca tathā vayam | asti ceddharmaleśosya gaṇāstaṃ śṛṇumo vayam
En matière de dharma, vous êtes la norme faisant autorité ; nous ne le sommes pas. Aussi, ô Gaṇas, s’il demeure en cette affaire ne fût-ce qu’une parcelle de dharma, nous souhaitons l’entendre de vous.
Brahma (addressing Shiva’s Gaṇas during the Sṛṣṭi narrative)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches humility and discernment: even a great cosmic functionary acknowledges that true dharma must be confirmed by proper authority, aligning one’s judgment with Shiva’s ordained order rather than ego or status.
In Saguna worship, Shiva’s will is approached through proper channels—guru, scripture, and the Lord’s ordained attendants. The verse reflects the Shaiva principle that dharma is validated by what accords with Shiva (Pati) and his command, not merely by personal opinion.
Practice dharma-sankalpa before worship: begin japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, seeking correction from śāstra and guru, and offering actions to Shiva as the final pramāṇa of right conduct.