Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva

Devanagari script

अद्यापि न वयं सर्वे प्रभवः प्रभवामहे । भवतो दुर्नयेनैव मया सत्यमुदीर्य्यते

Transliteration

adyāpi na vayaṃ sarve prabhavaḥ prabhavāmahe | bhavato durnayenaiva mayā satyamudīryyate

Translation

Selbst jetzt kann keiner von uns wahrhaft eine unabhängige Herrschaft oder Meisterschaft beanspruchen. Wegen deines verirrten Handelns bin ich gezwungen, diese Wahrheit offen auszusprechen.

Word by Word

• adya: today
• adya: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: adya (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); बहुवचन, प्रथमा (1st case nominative), त्रिलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे पुल्लिङ्गवत्

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुल्लिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (nominative plural masculine)

• prabhavaḥ: capable/masters
• prabhavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (nominative plural); ‘प्रभव’ = समर्थ/प्रभु/उत्पत्तिकारक

• prabhavāmahe: we are able / we prevail
• prabhavāmahe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√bhū (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), उत्तमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (we are able/we prevail)

• bhavataḥ: of you/your
• bhavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-प्रयोग (honorific ‘you’); षष्ठी (6th case genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• dur-nayena: by (your) bad policy/misconduct
• dur-nayena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dur + naya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपपद/उपसर्गपूर्वक); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case instrumental), एकवचन

• eva: indeed/only
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle: indeed/only)

• mayā: by me / I
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; तृतीया (instrumental), एकवचन (singular)

• satyam: truth
• satyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: satya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (accusative singular)

• udīryate: is spoken/uttered
• udīryate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√īr (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Satī (addressing Dakṣa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

The verse condemns ego-based “lordship” and asserts that true independence does not belong to embodied beings; in Shaiva understanding, only Shiva (Pati) is ultimately sovereign, so humility and truthfulness are essential for dharma and spiritual clarity.

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

It frames the inner attitude required for Saguna Shiva worship: abandoning pride and acknowledging a higher divine authority. Linga-worship is not mere ritual display; it is surrender of ego and alignment with truth, which Daksha’s conduct violates in the narrative.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is self-examination and humility before Shiva—supporting steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere worship free from arrogance, rather than performative rites driven by status.