Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तो दक्षदुर्बुद्धिश्शंभुना परमात्मना । परां दुर्धिषणां तस्य शृणु तात वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

ityukto dakṣadurbuddhiśśaṃbhunā paramātmanā | parāṃ durdhiṣaṇāṃ tasya śṛṇu tāta vadāmyaham

Translation

So, von Śambhu — dem Paramātman, dem höchsten Selbst — so angesprochen, wurde zu Dakṣa, dessen Einsicht verdreht war, gesagt: „Höre, Lieber; nun will ich dir von seinem äußerst hartnäckigen und verirrten Entschluss berichten.“

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोगः)

• uktaḥ: (having been) addressed/said to
• uktaḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (of implied passive state: ‘he who was addressed’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kridanta (कृदन्त), past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘having been said/addressed’

• dakṣa-durbuddhiḥ: Dakṣa, the evil-minded one
• dakṣa-durbuddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + durbuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारयः—‘Dakṣa who is of evil intellect’

• śaṃbhunā: by Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhunā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• paramātmanā: by the Supreme Self
• paramātmanā: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—‘supreme self’

• parām: supreme/very great
• parām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with दुर्धिषणाम्

• durdhiṣaṇām: evil intention/ill counsel
• durdhiṣaṇām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durdhiṣaṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ-lakāra (लोट्/Imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāta: dear one/son
• tāta: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• vadāmi: I speak/tell
• vadāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/Present), Uttama-puruṣa (1st person), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aham (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account of Śiva’s dealings with Dakṣa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how arrogance and distorted intellect (durbuddhi) create bondage (pāśa). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, turning away from Pati (Śiva) through obstinate resolve blocks grace and leads to downfall.

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

Śambhu is named as Paramātman yet speaks in the narrative as the compassionate Lord. This reflects Saguna Shiva guiding devotees and correcting error, while affirming his supreme, transcendent nature behind the Linga-worship tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and humility before Shiva’s instruction—supported by daily Shiva-upāsanā such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offering with a non-egotistic intent.