Shloka 78
The Destruction of Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
गणेश्वरैः सुदुर्द्धर्षैर्वृतः सूर्यो ग्रहैरिव । देवदेवमहादेव नष्टो यज्ञो दिवं गतः
gaṇeśvaraiḥ sudurddharṣairvṛtaḥ sūryo grahairiva | devadevamahādeva naṣṭo yajño divaṃ gataḥ
Umringt von den unbezwingbaren Scharen der Gaṇeśvaras, wie die Sonne von den Planeten umkreist—o Gott der Götter, Mahādeva—ist das Opfer vernichtet und gen Himmel gegangen.
Unspecified (a narrator/participant addressing Śiva as 'Devadeva Mahādeva')
Concept: Ritual without humility can collapse; even a grand yajña is fragile when it becomes a stage for pride—only God-centeredness preserves sacred work.
Application: Before any ‘religious’ act, set intention: offer results to the Divine; avoid rivalry and contempt; repair community harmony as part of worship.
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: temple
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Mahādeva stands at the center, ringed by formidable gaṇeśvaras like planets around the Sun, their silhouettes forming a living mandala. In the foreground, the sacrificial fire is extinguished, ladles and vessels lie scattered, and a torn canopy flutters upward as if the yajña itself has ‘gone to heaven,’ leaving a hollow, smoking altar behind.","primary_figures":["Śiva (Mahādeva)","gaṇeśvara hosts","fallen yajña implements"],"setting":"ruined yajña-śālā with a central altar, broken pillars, drifting smoke, and a skyward-opening canopy","lighting_mood":"divine radiance","color_palette":["solar gold","smoke gray","deep maroon","lapis blue","ash white"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Mahādeva as a radiant central figure with a circular formation of gaṇeśvaras like grahas; gold leaf halo and solar motifs; broken yajña altar with scattered vessels; rich reds and greens, ornate jewelry, embossed gold on weapons and halos.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: a mandala-like composition with Śiva at center, attendants orbiting; delicate smoke trails and torn canopy; cool twilight blues with warm golden aura; refined faces and subtle sorrow in the ruined altar details.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: iconic Śiva with bold outlines, large eyes, and a bright yellow aura; gaṇas arranged in a rhythmic circle; stylized broken altar and drifting smoke; red/yellow/green palette with strong black contouring.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central radiant deity figure with concentric rings of attendants like planetary orbits; ornate floral borders partially disrupted; deep blue ground with gold highlights; altar rendered as a symbolic empty center below, emphasizing the ‘departed’ yajña."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["distant conch","temple bells","wind through torn canopy","soft drum pulse","hushed silence after chaos"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सुदुर्द्धर्षैः = सु + दुर्द्धर्षैः (उपसर्ग-पूर्वपद); वृतः = (गणेश्वरैः... ) वृतः; देवदेवमहादेव = देव + देव + महादेव (समास/सम्बोधन); दिवं गतः = दिवम् + गतः.
FAQs
It emphasizes overwhelming encirclement and inevitability: just as the planets appear to accompany and surround the Sun, the Gaṇeśvara hosts surround the target so completely that resistance becomes futile.
The verse depicts the fragility of ritual when opposed by divine will or cosmic forces, a common Purāṇic theme that indirectly elevates devotion and alignment with dharma over mere external performance.
It suggests that sacred acts can be nullified by arrogance, disorder, or improper intent; the sanctity of a rite depends on righteousness and humility, not only on ceremonial completion.