Shloka 15

दक्षस्य तपः तथा जगदम्बायाः प्रत्यक्षता — Dakṣa’s Austerities and the Direct Manifestation of Jagadambā

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति स्तुता महेशानी दक्षेण प्रयतात्मना । उवाच दक्षं ज्ञात्वापि स्वयं तस्येप्सितं मुने

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti stutā maheśānī dakṣeṇa prayatātmanā | uvāca dakṣaṃ jñātvāpi svayaṃ tasyepsitaṃ mune

Translation

Brahmā said: Thus praised by Dakṣa, earnest in mind, Maheśānī (Satī) spoke to him, O sage; though she already knew Dakṣa well, she herself addressed what he desired.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-समाप्ति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्तुता: (she) having been praised
• स्तुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु) + त (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘praised’

• महेशानी: Maheshānī (Pārvatī/Satī)
• महेशानी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दक्षेण: by Dakṣa
• दक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• प्रयतात्मना: by the self-restrained (one)
• प्रयतात्मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रयत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषण—‘प्रयतः’ (self-controlled) + ‘आत्मा’ (self) = ‘one whose self is disciplined’

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• दक्षम्: to Dakṣa
• दक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादसूचक अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• स्वयम्: herself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (indeclinable: oneself)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• ईप्सितम्: the desired (boon/thing)
• ईप्सितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईप्सित (प्रातिपदिक; √आप्/ईप्स् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘desired (thing)’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Sati (Maheshani)
• Daksha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that sincere, disciplined intention (prayatātman) in praise opens a space for divine response—Satī, as Maheśānī, answers Dakṣa’s inner wish, showing how grace meets earnest devotion even amid karmic tensions in the narrative.

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

Maheśānī represents the accessible, saguna dimension of the Divine in Shaiva tradition—where devotion, praise, and personal relationship lead to guidance. This mirrors Linga worship, where the devotee approaches Shiva through a concrete sacred form and receives instruction and blessings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a prayatātman attitude: begin worship with calm focus and reverent stuti. Practically, this can be done by steady japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before offering (naivedya/abhisheka), so the mind becomes fit to receive divine direction.