Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 30
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
विप्रवनितोवाच । त्वदाज्ञयैनं बालं हि रक्षिष्यामि स्वपुत्रवत् । पौक्ष्यामि नात्र सन्देहो मद्भाग्यात्त्वमिहागतः
vipravanitovāca | tvadājñayainaṃ bālaṃ hi rakṣiṣyāmi svaputravat | paukṣyāmi nātra sandeho madbhāgyāttvamihāgataḥ
Sinabi ng babaeng Brahmana: “Sa iyong utos, tunay na iingatan ko ang batang ito na parang sarili kong anak na lalaki. Aalagaan at palalakihin ko siya—walang pag-aalinlangan. Sa aking mabuting kapalaran, naparito ka rito.”
Vipravanitā (the Brahmin woman)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga setting; the verse highlights the paśu’s receptive response to anugraha: obedience (ājñā), faith, and gratitude—key dispositions for grace to fructify.
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed as dharma: accepting a sacred responsibility as Shiva’s own command, trusting that divine grace works through compassionate human action.
In Saguna devotion, Shiva’s will is honored through lived service; protecting and nurturing life becomes an offering (sevā) to Shiva, just as worship of the Linga is performed with care, purity, and steadfastness.
A practical vow of sevā: serve and protect dependents as an act of Shiva-arpaṇa (offering to Shiva), while mentally repeating the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to keep the intention pure.