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
అప్పుడు ప్రభువின் మనస్సులో గాఢమైన విషాదం కలిగింది; ఆయన మనసులోనే ఇలా అన్నాడు—“నేను సదా ధర్మాన్ని ప్రకటించేవాడిని, ధర్మాన్ని ఆచరించేవాడిని, ధర్మాన్ని కాపాడేవాడిని.”
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.