ज्योतिर्लिङ्गमाहात्म्य-प्रस्तावना तथा सोमनाथ-प्रसङ्गः
Prologue to the Glory and Origin of the Jyotirliṅgas; Somnātha Episode Begins
दक्ष उवाच । विमले च कुले त्वं हि समुत्पन्नः कलानिधे । आश्रितेषु च सर्वेषु न्यूनाधिक्यं कथं तव
dakṣa uvāca | vimale ca kule tvaṃ hi samutpannaḥ kalānidhe | āśriteṣu ca sarveṣu nyūnādhikyaṃ kathaṃ tava
ଦକ୍ଷ କହିଲେ—ହେ କଳାନିଧି, ତୁମେ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ ନିର୍ମଳ ଓ ନିଷ୍କଳଙ୍କ କୁଳରେ ଜନ୍ମିଛ। ତଥାପି ଯେ ସମସ୍ତେ ତୁମ ଶରଣ ନେଇଛନ୍ତି, ସେମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ତୁମର ନ୍ୟୁନ-ଅଧିକ ଭେଦ କିପରି ହେବ?
Daksha
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; Dakṣa’s admonition to Candra frames a dharmic principle of impartiality toward dependents—prefiguring the karmic correction that ultimately drives beings toward Śiva’s refuge.
The verse highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) as the true spiritual qualifier: from a Shaiva Siddhānta lens, the Lord’s grace is not constrained by worldly hierarchy, and devotion can dissolve notions of “high” and “low” before Pati (Shiva).
Linga worship represents the accessible Saguna focus through which all devotees—regardless of social standing—approach Shiva; Daksha’s question points to the principle that the Lord’s presence and blessing in Linga worship is impartial to those who sincerely take refuge.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati through daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Linga-pūjā with humility, treating all Shiva-bhaktas as worthy of respect rather than ranking them.