Shloka 24

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

अहमागत्य सुप्रीत्या सांत्वयं दक्षमात्मजम् । शांतिभावं प्रदर्श्यैव देवं प्रबलमित्युत

Transliteration

ahamāgatya suprītyā sāṃtvayaṃ dakṣamātmajam | śāṃtibhāvaṃ pradarśyaiva devaṃ prabalamityuta

Translation

“I went there with genuine affection and tried to console Dakṣa’s daughter. Showing a mood of peace, I also spoke of the Deva (Śiva) as the mighty, all-prevailing Lord.”

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आगत्य: having come
• आगत्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having come”

• सुप्रीत्या: with great goodwill
• सुप्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय

• सांत्वयम्: consolation
• सांत्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सांत्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दक्षम्: Dakṣa
• दक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आत्मजम्: (my) son
• आत्मजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आत्मज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to दक्षम्)

• शांतिभावम्: a mood of peace
• शांतिभावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति-भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शान्तेः भावः)

• प्रदर्श्य: having shown
• प्रदर्श्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), “having shown”

• एव: indeed / just
• एव: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• देवम्: the god / Deva
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रबलम्: mighty
• प्रबलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (to देवम्)

• इति: thus
• इति: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-उद्धरणार्थक (quotative particle)

• उत: and / also
• उत: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (often ‘and/also/indeed’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satī–Dakṣa episode to the sages, with the verse reflecting the narrator’s reported speech in context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it occurs in the Satī–Dakṣa narrative where Satī is consoled and Śiva’s supremacy is affirmed despite social rejection.

Significance: Frames Śiva as the all-prevailing Lord (pati) whose grace and protection transcend worldly honor; encourages śaraṇāgati and steadiness amid insult.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights śāntibhāva (peaceful, sattvic composure) as a dharmic way to address suffering, while affirming Śiva as the supreme, powerful Deva—teaching that inner peace and right understanding of Pati (the Lord) steady the devotee amid conflict.

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

By calling the Deva ‘prabala’ (mighty), the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as a living, compassionate Lord who can be praised, remembered, and relied upon; such remembrance naturally culminates in Linga-worship as the stable, sacred focus of Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt śāntibhāva before worship: sit calmly, mentally bow to Śiva, and repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a reconciliatory heart; let speech become sāntvana (soothing truth) rather than agitation.