Shloka 36
द्विजेश्वरावतारः
The Manifestation of Shiva as Dvijeśvara
ब्राह्मण उवाच । किमादर्शेन चान्धस्य किं गृहेर्भैक्ष्यजीविनः । किम्पुस्तकेन मूढस्य निस्त्रीकस्य धनेन किम्
brāhmaṇa uvāca | kimādarśena cāndhasya kiṃ gṛherbhaikṣyajīvinaḥ | kimpustakena mūḍhasya nistrīkasya dhanena kim
พราหมณ์กล่าวว่า “กระจกมีประโยชน์อันใดแก่คนตาบอด? เรือนมีประโยชน์อันใดแก่ผู้ดำรงชีพด้วยการขอทาน? คัมภีร์มีประโยชน์อันใดแก่คนเขลา? และทรัพย์มีประโยชน์อันใดแก่ผู้ไร้ภรรยา?”
Brāhmaṇa
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It teaches adhikāra (fitness): objects, learning, and wealth become meaningful only when the person has the capacity and dharmic orientation to use them—otherwise they remain spiritually barren, like a mirror for the blind.
It implies that external supports—texts, possessions, even ritual resources—bear fruit only when joined with right understanding and devotion. In Linga-worship, mere materials are secondary to bhakti, purity, and correct intent directed to Saguna Shiva as the accessible form of Pati.
The takeaway is to prioritize inner qualification: steady japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with devotion and self-discipline, rather than relying on possessions or mere book-learning without practice.