Shloka 9

Adhyaya 35 — दधीचि-क्षुप-युद्धम्, भार्गवोपदेशः, मृतसंजीवनी (त्र्यम्बक) मन्त्रः

Devanagari script

दधीचश् च्यावनिश् चोग्रो गौरवादात्मनो द्विजः अताडयत्क्षुपं मूर्ध्नि दधीचो वाममुष्टिना चिछेद वज्रेण च तं दधीचं बलवान् क्षुपः

Transliteration

dadhīcaś cyāvaniś cogro gauravādātmano dvijaḥ atāḍayatkṣupaṃ mūrdhni dadhīco vāmamuṣṭinā cicheda vajreṇa ca taṃ dadhīcaṃ balavān kṣupaḥ

Translation

Dadhīci, the fierce son of Cyavana, puffed up with his own importance, struck Kṣupa upon the head. Then Dadhīci smashed him with his left fist; but the mighty Kṣupa, in turn, cut down Dadhīci with a thunderbolt-like vajra weapon.

Word by Word

• दधीचः: Dadhīci

• च्यावनिः: son of Cyavana

• उग्रः: fierce, formidable

• गौरवात्: out of pride/overbearing self-importance

• आत्मनः: of himself

• द्विजः: the twice-born (brahmin sage)

• अताडयत्: struck, beat

• क्षुपम्: Kṣupa (a named person/being)

• मूर्ध्नि: on the head

• वाम-मुष्टिना: with the left fist

• चिछेद (ciccheda): cut down, severed

• वज्रेण: with a vajra (thunderbolt/adamantine weapon)

• च: and

• तम्: him

• दधीचम्: Dadhīci

• बलवान्: powerful, mighty

• क्षुपः: Kṣupa.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Dadhichi
• Cyavana
• Kṣupa
• Vajra

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It underscores that mere status as a dvija or ascetic power is not itself purity; pride and aggression are pasha (bondage). Linga worship aims at inner śuddhi—humbling the pashu (individual soul) before Pati (Shiva).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly, it contrasts transient force and retaliatory violence with Shiva-tattva as the liberating principle: when the pashu is driven by ahaṅkāra, it cycles in karma; only orientation to Pati breaks bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical Pashupata-Yoga takeaway is restraint of anger and pride (yama-like discipline). The verse points to conquering inner enemies before approaching Linga-puja as a means of grace and release from pasha.