Shloka 55
Adhyāya 283: Varṇa-vṛtti, Nyāya-ārjana, and the Decline-and-Restoration of Dharma (वर्णवृत्तिः न्यायार्जनं च)
शरणं गच्छ विप्रेन्द्र देवदेवमुमापतिम् । वरं क्रोधो5पि देवस्य वरदानं न चान्यत:
śaraṇaṃ gaccha viprendra devadevam umāpatim | varaṃ krodho 'pi devasya varadānaṃ na cānyataḥ ||
毗罗跋陀罗说道：“噢，婆罗门中最尊者，当归依诸神之神、乌玛之主（湿婆）。即便神明之怒亦胜过他处所求之赐——因为那怒终可转为吉祥；而从别处得来的恩赐，并非真正有益。”
वीरभद्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches śaraṇāgati—seeking refuge in the supreme Lord (Śiva). It also conveys that even divine displeasure can be purifying and ultimately beneficial, while favors gained from lesser or external sources may not lead to true good.
Vīrabhadra addresses a learned brāhmaṇa and urges him to approach Śiva for protection and resolution. The counsel emphasizes Śiva’s supreme status and the idea that aligning with him—even through accepting his corrective wrath—is safer than relying on boons from other powers.