Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8

दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode

Devanagari script

पूषाभिधस्सुरस्तातौ दद्भिर्यज्ञसुपिष्टभुक् । याजमानैर्भग्नदंतस्सत्यमेतन्मयोदितम्

Transliteration

pūṣābhidhassurastātau dadbhiryajñasupiṣṭabhuk | yājamānairbhagnadaṃtassatyametanmayoditam

Translation

يا حبيبي، إن الإله المسمّى بوشان (Pūṣan)، وقد كُسرت أسنانه على يد اليَجَمانا (القائمين على القربان)، لم يأكل قربان اليَجْنَ إلا بعد أن سُحِق وطُحِن؛ وهذه هي الحقيقة كما نطقتُ بها.

Word by Word

• पूषा-आभिधः: (one) named Pūṣā
• पूषा-आभिधः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूषा (प्रातिपदिक) + आभिध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ‘पूष्णः आभिधः’

• सुरः: the god
• सुरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तातौ: in/at the father (i.e., as father/elder)
• तातौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (वेद/काव्यप्रयोगः; ‘तात’ = father/elder)

• दद्भिः: with teeth
• दद्भिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दद् (प्रातिपदिक; दन्त ‘tooth’ का वैदिक/छान्दस रूप)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• यज्ञ-सुपिष्ट-भुक्: eater of well-ground (food) in the sacrifice
• यज्ञ-सुपिष्ट-भुक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + सुपिष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; सु+पिष्) + भुज् (धातु) → भुक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘यज्ञे सुपिष्टं भुङ्क्ते’

• याजमानैः: by the sacrificers (patrons)
• याजमानैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याजमान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• भग्न-दन्तः: having broken teeth / broken-toothed
• भग्न-दन्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भग्न (कृदन्त; भञ्ज् धातु, क्त) + दन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: ‘भग्नः दन्तः यस्य’ (as adjective to Pūṣā)

• सत्यम्: truth
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन (वाक्ये विधेय/प्रमाणार्थे)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent-instrumental: ‘by me’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• उदितम्: said/uttered
• उदितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वद् (धातु) → उदित (कृदन्त; उद्+वद्, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd Nom/Acc), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Pūṣan
• Daksha
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It underscores that ritual power (yajña) becomes fruitless when driven by pride and opposition to Śiva; when devotion (bhakti) is absent, even the devas suffer consequences, showing Śiva as the supreme regulator (Pati) of dharma.

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

The Dakṣa-yajña context contrasts external sacrifice with reverence to Saguna Śiva (worship through the Liṅga and devotion). Honoring Śiva is presented as the inner completion of all rites; without it, sacrificial acts become spiritually incomplete.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to prioritize Śiva-bhakti—daily Liṅga-pūjā with mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—so that ritual is purified by humility and surrender rather than ego.