Shloka 36

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

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

Devanagari script

असत्प्रतिग्रहाश्चैव सर्वे निरयगामिनः । भविष्यंति सदा दक्ष केचिद्वै ब्रह्मराक्षसाः

Transliteration

asatpratigrahāścaiva sarve nirayagāminaḥ | bhaviṣyaṃti sadā dakṣa kecidvai brahmarākṣasāḥ

Translation

“Those who accept improper gifts—offerings not grounded in dharma—are all destined for hell. And some, O Dakṣa, will indeed ever become Brahma-rākṣasas.”

Word by Word

• असत्प्रतिग्रहाः: improper gift-takers / improper acceptances
• असत्प्रतिग्रहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असत् + प्रतिग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: असन्तः प्रतिग्रहाः / असत्-प्रतिग्रहः (improper acceptance of gifts)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Conjunction (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, certainly
• एव: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphatic particle)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• निरयगामिनः: hell-bound
• निरयगामिनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरय + गामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: निरयं गच्छन्ति इति (going to hell)

• भविष्यन्ति: will become
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• दक्ष: O Dakṣa
• दक्ष: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन; संबोधन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (emphasis)

• ब्रह्मराक्षसाः: brahmarākṣasas (brahmin-demons)
• ब्रह्मराक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म + राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः: ब्राह्मण-राक्षसाः (a class of demon-spirits associated with Brahmins)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (addressing Daksha within the Sati Khanda narrative context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Daksha

FAQs

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

It teaches that dharma is preserved not only by giving, but also by receiving rightly; accepting impure or unjust wealth binds the soul with pāśa (bondage) and ripens into painful karmic results, obstructing liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana emphasizes purity of intention and offering; this verse warns that ritual and charity become spiritually harmful when tied to adharma, and that devotion to Saguna Shiva must be aligned with ethical conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice disciplined purity in dāna and pratigraha, and pair worship with repentance and mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—to purify motives and karma.