Shloka 24
देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
अस्ति यक्षेश्वरः कश्चित् फलदः सर्वकर्मणाम् । कर्तारं भजते सोपि न स्वकर्त्तुः प्रभुर्हि सः
asti yakṣeśvaraḥ kaścit phaladaḥ sarvakarmaṇām | kartāraṃ bhajate sopi na svakarttuḥ prabhurhi saḥ
సర్వకర్మఫలదాత అయిన ఒక యక్షేశ్వరుడు ఉన్నాడు; అయినా అతడూ పరమ కర్తను భజించును, ఎందుకంటే తన కర్తృత్వంపై అతడు స్వతంత్ర ప్రభువు కాడు।
Sūta Gosvāmī
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: The verse evokes the hierarchy of agency: even a powerful yakṣa-lord who dispenses karmaphala remains subordinate to the supreme Kartṛ (Śiva). This aligns with Purāṇic depictions of Kubera’s prosperity being contingent on Śiva’s favor, though no specific jyotirliṅga is named here.
FAQs
The verse teaches that even powerful deities who appear to dispense results are not autonomous; the ultimate agency belongs to Shiva (Pati). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, karma yields fruit through the Lord’s governance, and liberation comes by surrendering the ego of “I am the doer” and taking refuge in Shiva.
It supports Saguna Shiva worship by affirming a supreme personal Lord who is the true Karta (Doer) behind all cosmic functions. Linga-worship is thus not merely symbolic—it is devotion to the governing Pati who alone can overrule bondage and confer grace beyond mechanical karma.
Practice inner surrender of doership while performing Shiva-puja: mentally offer all actions and their fruits to Shiva, repeat the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate bhakti with humility—seeing all karmic outcomes as governed by the Lord.