Shloka 17
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्येवमुक्त्वा स महाखलस्तदा रुषान्वितो रुद्रमिदं ह्यवोचत् । शृण्वंत्वमी विप्रवरास्तथा सुरा वध्यं हि मे चार्हथ कर्तुमेतम्
brahmovāca | ityevamuktvā sa mahākhalastadā ruṣānvito rudramidaṃ hyavocat | śṛṇvaṃtvamī vipravarāstathā surā vadhyaṃ hi me cārhatha kartumetam
Brahmā said: “Having spoken thus, that exceedingly wicked one, overcome with anger, addressed Rudra in these words: ‘Let these foremost brāhmaṇas and the devas hear. This man deserves to be slain—so you must make him slain for my sake.’”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse highlights how adharmic anger tries to enlist sacred authority (brāhmaṇas and devas) to justify violence, while Rudra stands as Pati—the divine conscience—who is not compelled by wrathful demands but upholds dharma and cosmic order.
Rudra here is Saguna Shiva—the personal Lord who responds within history to protect dharma. Linga-worship trains the devotee to approach Shiva with humility and truth, not to treat the Lord as an instrument for personal vengeance.
The practical takeaway is anger-control and dharmic speech: steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivate śānti before taking any action, since Shiva is approached through purity of intention rather than agitation.