Shloka 25

दक्षयज्ञे मुनिदेवसमागमः / The Gathering of Sages and Gods at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरेऽदृष्ट्वा तत्र वै शंकरं प्रभुम् । प्रोद्विग्नमानसश्शैवो दधीचो वाक्यमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare'dṛṣṭvā tatra vai śaṃkaraṃ prabhum | prodvignamānasaśśaivo dadhīco vākyamabravīt

Translation

Just then, not seeing Lord Śaṅkara there, the Śaiva sage Dadhīci—his mind stirred with anxious concern—spoke these words.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana (singular); demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• antare: in the interval
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Saptamī (7th/सप्तमी), Ekavacana; locative of time/interval

• adṛṣṭvā: not having seen
• adṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having not seen’ (nañ-artha implied by a-); action prior to main verb

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb of place (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle/emphasis (निपात)

• śaṃkaram: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (masculine), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• prabhum: the Lord
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; apposition to śaṃkaram

• prodvigna-mānasaḥ: whose mind was distressed
• prodvigna-mānasaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prodvigna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; कर्मधारय: ‘prodvignam mānasam yasya’ (one whose mind is agitated)

• śaivaḥ: the Śaiva (devotee of Śiva)
• śaivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; follower of Śiva

• dadhīcaḥ: Dadhīca
• dadhīcaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; proper noun

• vākyam: a statement/words
• vākyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• abravīt: said/spoke
• abravīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) imperfect/past, Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana

Speaker

Dadhichi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; introduces Dadhīci as a Śaiva voice within the yajña assembly, catalyzing recognition of Śiva’s rightful presence.

Significance: Models the devotee’s conscience: a true Śaiva cannot remain indifferent when Śiva is dishonored; such concern becomes a doorway to anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

It highlights the bhakta’s intense Shiva-smaraṇa: when the Lord is not perceived, the devotee’s heart becomes restless, and that longing itself becomes a force that turns the mind back toward Pati (Shiva), the liberating Lord.

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

The verse reflects devotion to Saguna Shiva—Śaṅkara as the approachable Lord—whose presence is sought and felt. In practice, such seeking is steadied through Linga-upāsanā, where the devotee anchors attention in Shiva’s accessible form while remembering His supreme nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to calm prodvigna (agitated) mind; if performing worship, support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steady devotion.