Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13
तारकपीडितदेवशरणागतिḥ — The Devas Seek Refuge from Tāraka
न यज्ञास्संप्रवर्तते न तपस्यंति तापसाः । दानधर्मादिकं किंचिन्न लोकेषु प्रवर्त्तते
na yajñāssaṃpravartate na tapasyaṃti tāpasāḥ | dānadharmādikaṃ kiṃcinna lokeṣu pravarttate
نہ یَگّیہ ٹھیک طرح جاری ہوتے ہیں، نہ تپسوی تپسیا کرتے ہیں۔ دان، دھرم وغیرہ کوئی بھی مقدس فریضہ دنیا کے کسی لوک میں رائج نہیں رہتا۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It depicts a dharmic breakdown: when inner discipline and sacred intention fade, outer rites (yajña), austerity (tapas), and ethical duties (dāna-dharma) stop bearing fruit—prompting the need to return to Shiva-centered devotion and right conduct.
When public dharma weakens, the Purana repeatedly points to accessible Saguna worship—especially Linga worship—as a stabilizing refuge, restoring purity of mind and re-establishing the foundations for yajña, tapas, and charity to become meaningful again.
A practical takeaway is to re-ground life in Shiva-sādhana—daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with simple Linga-pūjā (water, bilva) and disciplined charity—so that dharma becomes living practice rather than mere formality.