Shloka 23
Varṇa-adhikāra, Karma, and the Protection of One’s Attained Spiritual Status (वर्णाधिकारः कर्म च स्वस्थानरक्षणम्)
तस्य धर्मार्थ कामाश्च यज्ञश्चैव सदक्षिणः । परं ह्यभिमुखं दत्त्वा तद्यानं योऽधिरोहति
tasya dharmārtha kāmāśca yajñaścaiva sadakṣiṇaḥ | paraṃ hyabhimukhaṃ dattvā tadyānaṃ yo'dhirohati
அவனுக்கு தர்மம், பொருள், விதிசார்ந்த இன்பம் நிறைவேறும்; தக்க தக்ஷிணையுடன் யாகங்களும் பூர்த்தியாகும்; சிறந்ததை பக்தியுடன் அர்ப்பணித்து அந்தப் புனித யானத்தில் ஏறுபவன் பரம நன்மை அடைவான்।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that when actions are offered with reverence and the best one can give, worldly aims (dharma, artha, kāma) are harmonized and one is led toward the supreme good—ultimately Shiva’s grace and liberation.
In Saguna Shiva worship, ritual acts like pūjā and yajña become spiritually effective when accompanied by dakṣiṇā and sincere offering; such disciplined devotion purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) under the Lord (Pati).
Perform worship or yajña with proper dakṣiṇā (charitable giving) and a heart turned toward Shiva; make the offering ‘para’—the best you can—while maintaining steady devotional intent.