Shloka 54
दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः
सम्पूजितस्तया तां तु प्राह धर्मो द्विजः स्वयम् भद्रे कुतः पतिर्धीमांस् तव भर्ता सुदर्शनः
sampūjitastayā tāṃ tu prāha dharmo dvijaḥ svayam bhadre kutaḥ patirdhīmāṃs tava bhartā sudarśanaḥ
جب اُس نے اُن کی پوری طرح تعظیم و پوجا کی تو دھرم خود برہمن کے روپ میں اُس بھدرہ ناری سے بولا— “اے بھدرے! تمہارا پتی کہاں سے آیا ہے—تمہارا دانا اور خوش صورت شوہر، سُدرشن؟”
Dharma (personified), in the guise of a brahmin (dvija)
FAQs
The verse frames Dharma as a living principle that questions and verifies conduct; in Linga-oriented Shaiva life, puja is not only ritual but must be aligned with dharma—purity, hospitality, and truthful living—so the devotee (pashu) becomes fit for Pati’s grace.
While Shiva is not named here, the Shaiva Siddhanta lens reads Dharma as an expression of the cosmic order upheld by Pati; the narrative shows that auspiciousness (bhadra) and right discernment (dhī) are signs of alignment with the Lord’s governance over pasha (bondage) through righteous action.
Hospitality and honoring a worthy guest (atithi-satkara) is highlighted—treated as a dharmic limb that supports puja and inner discipline; it functions as a preparatory purification that steadies the mind for Shaiva worship and Pashupata-oriented self-restraint.