Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 3

उत्पातवर्णनम् / Description of Portents at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

दक्षवामाक्षिबाहूरुविस्पंदस्समजायत । नानाकष्टप्रदस्तात सर्वथाऽशुभसूचकः

Transliteration

dakṣavāmākṣibāhūruvispaṃdassamajāyata | nānākaṣṭapradastāta sarvathā'śubhasūcakaḥ

Translation

ثم أخذت عين دكشا اليسرى وذراعه وفخذه ترتعش. يا حبيب، كان ذلك نذير شؤم من كل وجه، يُنبئ بأنواعٍ كثيرة من الكرب والبلاء.

Word by Word

• दक्ष-वाम-अक्षि-बाहु-ऊरु-विस्पन्दः: twitching of (the) right/left eye, arm, and thigh
• दक्ष-वाम-अक्षि-बाहु-ऊरु-विस्पन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक) + ऊरु (प्रातिपदिक) + विस्पन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1-प्रथमा), Singular; dvandva listing: 'twitching of right/left eye, arm, thigh' (collective)

• समजायत: arose/occurred
• समजायत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√जन् (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); middle voice (आत्मनेपद)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; distributive/adverbial ‘various’ used as pre-member

• कष्ट-प्रदः: causing distress
• कष्ट-प्रदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1-प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'विस्पन्दः'

• तात: O dear one/father
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8-सम्बोधन), Singular; term of address

• सर्वथा: entirely
• सर्वथा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• अशुभ-सूचकः: indicating inauspiciousness
• अशुभ-सूचकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + सूचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1-प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'विस्पन्दः'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Bodily ‘aṅga-sphuraṇa’ (twitching) functions as an ariṣṭa sign; Dakṣa’s left-side throbbing indicates impending loss of status and the veiling of his ritual merit due to offense against Śiva.

Significance: Encourages self-examination: when ego (ahaṅkāra) dominates, the body-mind itself becomes a field where pāśa signals distress; refuge in Śiva restores auspiciousness.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Ariṣṭa-lakṣaṇa localized in the body (left eye/arm/thigh twitching) as a prelude to yajña-vināśa.

Characters & Entities

• Daksha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse signals that Dakṣa’s inner disorder—rooted in pride and disregard for Śiva—manifests outwardly as inauspicious bodily omens, foreshadowing suffering. In Shaiva thought, such signs point to karmic consequence and the need to realign oneself with devotion to Pati (Śiva).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In the Satīkhaṇḍa context leading to Dakṣa’s conflict, the omen underscores that rejecting Śiva’s rightful place (often honored through Liṅga/Saguṇa worship) invites spiritual and worldly disruption. Reverence to Śiva as the supreme Lord restores auspiciousness (śiva) and harmony.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to counter inauspiciousness through Śiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with simple Śiva-pūjā (offering water to the Liṅga) and cultivating humility, which removes the ‘pāśa’ of ego.