Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्
Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods
विषादोभूत्प्रभोस्तत्र मनस्येवमुवाच ह । धर्मवक्ता धर्मकर्त्ता धर्मावनकरस्सदा
viṣādobhūtprabhostatra manasyevamuvāca ha | dharmavaktā dharmakarttā dharmāvanakarassadā
तेव्हा प्रभूच्या मनात गाढ विषाद उत्पन्न झाला आणि तो मनोमन म्हणाला—“मी सदैव धर्माचा वक्ता, धर्माचा कर्ता आणि धर्माचा रक्षक आहे.”
Suta Goswami (narrating the inner reflection of Lord Shiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Ishana
Mantra: धर्मवक्ता धर्मकर्त्ता धर्मावनकरस्सदा
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents Shiva as Dharmapāla—one who teaches, enacts, and protects Dharma—showing that even when sorrow arises, the Lord remains anchored in cosmic order and the welfare of beings, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on Shiva as Pati guiding souls toward liberation.
Worship of the Linga honors Shiva’s Saguna grace as the visible support of Dharma in the world; this verse frames Shiva not as distant, but as actively sustaining righteous order, which devotees approach through Linga worship, mantra, and disciplined conduct.
A practical takeaway is to align one’s life with Dharma while remembering Shiva as Dharmapāla—reciting the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady intention and maintaining purity (e.g., Tripuṇḍra/bhasma and simple daily worship) as an outward expression of inner dharmic resolve.