Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 30

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । रे दक्ष शठ दुर्बुद्धे वृथैव शिवकिंकराः । शप्तास्ते ब्रह्मचापल्याच्छिवतत्त्वमजानता

nandīśvara uvāca | re dakṣa śaṭha durbuddhe vṛthaiva śivakiṃkarāḥ | śaptāste brahmacāpalyācchivatattvamajānatā

Nandīśvara said: “O Dakṣa, deceitful one of perverse understanding! In vain have you cursed the servants of Śiva. Those curses were uttered only out of Brahmā-like impetuosity, for you do not know the true tattva—the principle—of Śiva.”

नन्दीश्वरःNandīśvara
नन्दीश्वरः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootनन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
उवाचsaid
उवाच:
क्रिया (Main verb)
TypeVerb
Rootवच् (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम्
रेO! (hey)
रे:
सम्बोधन (Address)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootरे (अव्यय)
Formसम्बोधन-अव्यय (vocative particle/interjection)
दक्षO Dakṣa
दक्ष:
सम्बोधन (Address)
TypeNoun
Rootदक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
शठO deceitful one
शठ:
सम्बोधन (Address)
TypeAdjective
Rootशठ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (addressing)
दुर्बुद्धेO evil-minded one
दुर्बुद्धे:
सम्बोधन (Address)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर् + बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् (addressing)
वृथाin vain, uselessly
वृथा:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootवृथा (अव्यय)
Formक्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (Adverb)
एवindeed/only
एव:
अवधारण (Emphasis)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव (अव्यय)
Formनिश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)
शिवकिंकराःservants of Śiva
शिवकिंकराः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootशिव + किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)
शप्ताःcursed
शप्ताः:
कर्ता (Karta—qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootशप्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शप्/शाप्? here PPP of √शप् ‘to curse’)
Formप्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषणम् to ‘शिवकिंकराः’
तेthey
ते:
कर्ता (Karta—apposition)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formप्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग
ब्रह्मचापल्यात्due to brahminical frivolity/impudence
ब्रह्मचापल्यात्:
अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative—cause)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् + चापल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); हेतौ/कारणे (cause)
शिवतत्त्वम्the principle/reality of Śiva
शिवतत्त्वम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootशिव + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; object of ‘अजानता’ (not knowing)
अजानताnot knowing
अजानता:
कर्ता (Karta—qualifier of ‘ते’)
TypeVerb
Rootअ + ज्ञा (धातु)
Formशतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle/शतृ), प्रथमा बहुवचन पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘not knowing’ (negated participle)

Nandīśvara (Nandī)

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

S
Shiva
N
Nandi
D
Daksha
B
Brahma

FAQs

The verse teaches that offenses rooted in arrogance become spiritually futile when one is ignorant of Śiva-tattva; true dharma is to honor Śiva and His devotees, cultivating humility and devotion rather than pride.

By emphasizing Śiva-tattva, the verse supports Saguna worship (Liṅga and Śiva’s attendants) as sacred manifestations of Śiva’s presence; disrespect toward Śiva’s devotees is treated as ignorance of the very reality the Liṅga signifies.

A practical takeaway is to practice bhakti with humility—recite the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), apply Tripuṇḍra with reverence, and avoid aparādha (offense) toward Śiva’s devotees while cultivating inner surrender.