Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 9

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

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

Devanagari script

मां प्रणम्य स दक्षो हि न्युष्टस्तत्र मदाज्ञया । ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिर्मान्यो मानी तत्त्वबहिर्मुखः

Transliteration

māṃ praṇamya sa dakṣo hi nyuṣṭastatra madājñayā | brahmāṇḍādhipatirmānyo mānī tattvabahirmukhaḥ

Translation

Nachdem Dakṣa sich vor Mir verneigt hatte, blieb er dort auf Mein Geheiß. Obgleich er der verehrte Herr der kosmischen Sphäre war, war er stolz und nach außen gewandt, von der inneren Wahrheit (tattva) abgewandt.

Word by Word

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-प्रत्ययात्मक सर्वनाम; द्वितीया, एकवचन

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√nam (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund); ‘having bowed’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• dakṣaḥ: Dakṣa
• dakṣaḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to saḥ

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) emphasizing/indeed

• nyuṣṭaḥ: having stayed/settled
• nyuṣṭaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√vas (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having stayed/settled’ (ni + uṣita/nyuṣṭa variant)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• mat-ājñayā: by my command
• mat-ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक) + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘मम आज्ञया’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; instrumental: by my command

• brahmāṇḍa-adhipatiḥ: lord of the universe-egg (cosmos)
• brahmāṇḍa-adhipatiḥ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmāṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + adhipati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ब्रह्माण्डस्य अधिपतिः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष

• mānyaḥ: honorable
• mānyaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mānī: proud
• mānī: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mānin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; possessive adjective: proud/self-respecting

• tattva-bahir-mukhaḥ: turned outward from the truth
• tattva-bahir-mukhaḥ: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tattva (प्रातिपदिक) + bahir (अव्यय) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘तत्त्वेभ्यः बहिर्मुखः’ अर्थे; bahir as upapada; outward-facing away from truth

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights that worldly status—even being a cosmic ruler—does not equal spiritual maturity; pride turns one outward, away from tattva, and only humility before Shiva opens the path to grace and right understanding.

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

Bowing to Shiva signifies accepting Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord who redirects the devotee from external prestige to inner reality; Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to move from outer forms to the tattva Shiva signifies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is daily pranama (prostration) with ego-surrender—optionally alongside Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—to reverse the outward-facing tendency and cultivate inward devotion.