Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

उत्पातवर्णनम् / Description of Portents at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र संजाता चाशरीरवाक् । श्रावयत्यखिलान् देवान्दक्षं चैव विशेषतः

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare tatra saṃjātā cāśarīravāk | śrāvayatyakhilān devāndakṣaṃ caiva viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Da, in eben jenem Augenblick und an jenem Ort, erhob sich eine körperlose Stimme und verkündete eine Botschaft, die alle Götter hören sollten—besonders an Dakṣa gerichtet.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• antare: interval/time
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (स्थान/कालवाचक अव्यय)

• saṃjātā: arose/was born
• saṃjātā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√jan (धातु) + tā (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त); Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with vāk

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• aśarīra-vāk: a bodiless voice
• aśarīra-vāk: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-śarīra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound meaning 'bodiless voice'

• śrāvayati: makes (them) hear/announces
• śrāvayati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु) causative (णिच्)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; causative: 'causes to hear'

• akhilān: all
• akhilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; qualifies devān

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• dakṣam: Dakṣa
• dakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Oracular intervention (aśarīra-vāk) signaling divine governance over the yajña-conflict

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights divine oversight: when dharma is threatened by ego and disrespect toward Śiva (Pati), a higher, unseen authority intervenes. The “aśarīra-vāk” signals that cosmic law operates beyond physical forms, guiding beings back toward humility and right understanding.

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

A disembodied proclamation points to Śiva’s transcendence (beyond form), while addressing Dakṣa within a ritual setting underscores that outer rites must align with inner reverence for Śiva. In Śaiva Siddhānta, proper worship of Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga worship) must be grounded in devotion and right attitude, not mere ritual pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is vigilance in bhakti: maintain reverence while performing rites. As a supportive daily discipline, recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility before worship, remembering that intention (bhāva) sanctifies external practice.