Shloka 25
Dāruvana-parīkṣā: Śaṅkara’s Test and the Linga’s Ritual-Theological Grounding
ब्रह्मोवाच । ज्ञातारश्च भवन्तो वै कुर्वते गर्हितं द्विजाः । अज्ञातारो यदा कुर्युः किं पुनः कथ्यते पुनः
brahmovāca | jñātāraśca bhavanto vai kurvate garhitaṃ dvijāḥ | ajñātāro yadā kuryuḥ kiṃ punaḥ kathyate punaḥ
Brahmā bersabda: “Wahai para dwija, meskipun kamu mengetahui dharma, kamu tetap kadang-kadang melakukan perbuatan yang tercela. Jika orang yang jahil berbuat demikian, apa lagi yang perlu dikatakan?”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakshinamurti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights human fallibility: even the learned can slip into blameworthy conduct. From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it urges vigilance (anava-ignorance is subtle) and turning back to Shiva through repentance, right conduct, and devotion for purification.
By stressing that faults arise even in the knowledgeable, it implicitly points to the Linga-worship of Saguna Shiva as a reliable refuge—where sincere devotion, confession of faults, and disciplined worship restore dharmic alignment and inner purity.
Practice daily self-review and pray for forgiveness, then do Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a calm mind; if following Purana-style observance, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintain sattvic conduct during vrata/pilgrimage.