Shloka 52

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

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

Devanagari script

दक्षोपि स रुषाविष्टस्तैर्द्धिजैः परिवारितः । स्वस्थानं च ययौ चित्ते शिवद्रो हपरायणः

Transliteration

dakṣopi sa ruṣāviṣṭastairddhijaiḥ parivāritaḥ | svasthānaṃ ca yayau citte śivadro haparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Even Daksha, seized by anger and surrounded by the twice-born (brahmins), returned to his own abode—his mind fixed on hostility toward Shiva.

Word by Word

दक्षःDakṣa

अपिalso

सःhe

रुषाविष्टःseized by anger

तैःby those

द्विजैःby the Brahmins

परिवारितःsurrounded

स्वस्थानम्to his own place

चand

ययौwent

चित्तेin (his) mind

शिवद्रोहपरायणःintent on hostility toward Śiva

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Daksha

FAQs

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

It portrays how anger and ego can harden into Shiva-droha (hostility to the Lord), which in Shaiva thought becomes a binding impurity that veils devotion and delays grace (anugraha).

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

Daksha’s mindset shows rejection of Saguna Shiva worship—denying the Lord’s rightful place in sacred rites. The Purana implies that ritual gains are incomplete when the living presence of Shiva (often adored as Linga) is dishonored.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to avoid Shiva-aparadha and cultivate humility through Shiva-nama japa—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namah Shivaya”—as a purifying practice that softens anger and restores bhakti.