Shloka 22

क्षुपस्य विष्णुदर्शनं, वैष्णवस्तोत्रं, दधीचविवादः, स्थानेश्वरतीर्थमाहात्म्यं

Devanagari script

राजोवाच भगवन्ब्राह्मणः कश्चिद् दधीच इति विश्रुतः धर्मवेत्ता विनीतात्मा सखा मम पुराभवत्

Transliteration

rājovāca bhagavanbrāhmaṇaḥ kaścid dadhīca iti viśrutaḥ dharmavettā vinītātmā sakhā mama purābhavat

Translation

രാജാവ് പറഞ്ഞു—ഭഗവൻ! ‘ദധീചി’ എന്ന പേരിൽ പ്രസിദ്ധനായ ഒരു ബ്രാഹ്മണൻ ഉണ്ട്; അദ്ദേഹം ധർമ്മജ്ഞനും വിനീതചിത്തനും; മുൻപ് അദ്ദേഹം എന്റെ സുഹൃത്തായിരുന്നു।

Word by Word

• राजा उवाच: the king said

• भगवन्: O venerable one / O Bhagavan

• ब्राह्मणः: a brāhmaṇa

• कश्चित्: a certain

• दधीच: Dadhīci

• इति: thus/by the name

• विश्रुतः: well-known/renowned

• धर्मवेत्ता: knower of dharma

• विनीतात्मा: disciplined and humble-minded

• सखा: friend

• मम: my

• पुरा: formerly/earlier

• अभवत्: was/became

Speaker

King (Raja)

Characters & Entities

• Dadhichi

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It introduces Dadhīci as a dharma-knowing, humble brāhmaṇa—an archetype of purity and discipline, the inner qualifications (adhikāra) that make Linga-pūjā fruitful for the pashu (soul) seeking the grace of Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly: by foregrounding dharma, humility, and right friendship with the saintly, it points to Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who uplifts the pashu from pāśa (bondage) through dharmic refinement and saṅga with the virtuous.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is stated, but the verse emphasizes vinaya (humility) and dharma-jñāna as the foundational sādhana—key preparatory disciplines that support Pāśupata-oriented worship and yogic steadiness.