Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः
Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
यस्य ये मानिनस्सर्वे ससुरर्षिमुखाः परे । ते मूढा यजनं प्राप्ताः पितुस्ते ज्ञानवर्जिताः
yasya ye māninassarve sasurarṣimukhāḥ pare | te mūḍhā yajanaṃ prāptāḥ pituste jñānavarjitāḥ
All jene Stolzen—zusammen mit den übrigen ṛṣis, angeführt von Dakṣas Partei—kamen zum yajña deines Schwiegervaters. Verblendet und ohne wahre Erkenntnis nahmen sie an diesem Ritus teil, ohne Śiva, den höchsten Herrn, zu verstehen.
Lord Shiva (inferred within the Sati Khanda dialogue addressing Sati around the Daksha-yajna episode)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Dakṣa’s yajña is portrayed as ritually grand yet spiritually defective because it excludes Śiva; the ‘proud’ participants attend through māna (ego) and ajñāna, foreshadowing the collapse of the sacrifice and the later restoration through Śiva’s supremacy.
Significance: Didactic: warns that pilgrimage/ritual without recognition of Pati (Śiva) remains within pāśa (bondage) and yields dishonour rather than merit.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It warns that ritual actions performed with pride and without right knowledge of Pati (Śiva) become empty; ego (māna) veils discernment, so even learned people can fall into delusion.
The Dakṣa-yajña theme contrasts external sacrifice with true Śaiva worship—honoring Śiva (often through Linga-upāsanā and devotion) as the inner Lord; neglecting Him makes rites spiritually fruitless.
Cultivate humility and Śiva-bhakti alongside practice—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere worship (with vibhūti/tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa if one follows those observances) to remove delusion and ego.