Shloka 22
Devas Praise Śiva; Gaṇeśa Manifests as Vighneśvara and Receives the Primacy of Worship
मां च नारायणं वापि ब्रह्माणम् अपि पुत्रक यजन्ति यज्ञैर्वा विप्रैर् अग्रे पूज्यो भविष्यसि
māṃ ca nārāyaṇaṃ vāpi brahmāṇam api putraka yajanti yajñairvā viprair agre pūjyo bhaviṣyasi
“Wahai anak, sama ada mereka menyembah Aku, atau Nārāyaṇa, atau bahkan Brahmā—melalui korban suci (yajña) yang dilaksanakan oleh para Brāhmaṇa—engkau akan menjadi yang dimuliakan di tempat terdepan, disembah terlebih dahulu.”
Shiva (as Pati granting precedence in worship)
FAQs
It establishes the principle of pūrvapūjā (foremost honoring): the devotee or recipient of Shiva’s grace is to be honored first, even when worship is performed through Vedic yajña—showing that Linga-pūjā and yajña converge in honoring Pati (Śiva) as the highest refuge.
Shiva-tattva is implied as the granting, sovereign Pati who can confer spiritual and ritual precedence; even alongside worship of Nārāyaṇa and Brahmā, Shiva’s dispensation determines who becomes ‘agre pūjyaḥ,’ reflecting his lordship over merit (puṇya) and honor (pūjā).
Vedic yajña performed through qualified Brāhmaṇas is highlighted, with the Shaiva takeaway that ritual becomes perfected when oriented to Pati; this supports the Pāśupata ethic of aligning karma (ritual action) with devotion and surrender to Shiva.