Shloka 12

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अथ दाक्षायणी देवी विजयां प्रवरां सखीम् । स्थापयित्वा द्रुतं तत्र समगच्छच्छिवांतिकम्

Transliteration

atha dākṣāyaṇī devī vijayāṃ pravarāṃ sakhīm | sthāpayitvā drutaṃ tatra samagacchacchivāṃtikam

Translation

Then the Goddess Dākṣāyaṇī (Satī), having placed her excellent companion Vijayā there, swiftly went to the presence of Śiva.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (then/now)

• दाक्षायणी: Dākṣāyaṇī (Satī)
• दाक्षायणी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अयण/अयन (तद्धित) → दाक्षायणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (patronymic: daughter of Dakṣa)

• देवी: goddess
• देवी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दाक्षायणी-सम्बोधन/विशेष्य (appositional noun)

• विजयाम्: Vijayā
• विजयाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रवराम्: excellent, foremost
• प्रवराम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of विजयाम्/सखीम्)

• सखीम्: (as) a friend
• सखीम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विजयाम् के प्रति अप्पोजिशन (apposition)

• स्थापयित्वा: having placed/appointed
• स्थापयित्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु) (णिच्) → स्थापय् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); causative sense: ‘having stationed/placed’

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-एकवचनम्; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverb: quickly)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय

• समगच्छत्: went, proceeded
• समगच्छत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• शिवान्तिकम्: to Śiva’s vicinity, near Śiva
• शिवान्तिकम्: कर्म/गति-लक्ष्य (Destination as object of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य अन्तिकम् = near Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The movement of Dākṣāyaṇī to Śiva’s presence is part of the prelude to the Dakṣa-yajña rupture; later, the same cycle becomes a template for many sthala traditions that emphasize Śiva’s protection of devotees against sacrificial arrogance.

Significance: Highlights śaraṇāgati (seeking proximity to Śiva) as the turning point before karmic crisis; pilgrimage ethos: ‘go to Śiva’ when dharma is obscured.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha
• Vijaya

FAQs

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

It highlights Satī’s decisive, one-pointed movement toward Śiva—an image of bhakti where the soul turns away from secondary supports and hastens to the Lord (Pati) as the true refuge.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the verse reflects the same principle of Saguna-upāsanā: approaching Śiva as the accessible, personal Lord whose presence sanctifies the devotee’s intention and action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is focused remembrance and swift inner turning to Śiva—practically expressed through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and approaching worship without delay or distraction.