Shloka 20

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

पितुर्मम महायज्ञे कस्मात्तव न रोचते । गमनं देवदेवेश तत्सर्वं कथय प्रभो

Transliteration

piturmama mahāyajñe kasmāttava na rocate | gamanaṃ devadeveśa tatsarvaṃ kathaya prabho

Translation

At my father’s great sacrifice, why do You not feel inclined to go? O Lord of the gods, tell me all of this, O Master—why is going there not agreeable to You?

Word by Word

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• महायज्ञे: in the great sacrifice
• महायज्ञे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महायज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयसमासः (महान् यज्ञः)

• कस्मात्: from what cause? why?
• कस्मात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक

• तव: your
• तव: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• रोचते: pleases / seems agreeable
• रोचते: क्रिया (Verb action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्

• गमनम्: going, departure
• गमनम्: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गमन (प्रातिपदिक; √गम्-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• देव-देवेश: O Lord of the gods
• देव-देवेश: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषसमासः (देवानां देवेशः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; निर्देश/सम्बन्धक

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘तत्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• कथय: tell, explain
• कथय: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथय् (धातु; नामधातु from कथा)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुषः (2nd person), एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Satī (addressing Lord Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

Satī’s question highlights a Shaiva Siddhānta theme: ritual (yajña) becomes spiritually hollow when driven by ego, disrespect, or exclusion of Śiva—the supreme Pati. True dharma is devotion and right attitude, not mere ceremonial grandeur.

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

Śiva’s reluctance points to the principle that Saguna worship (including the Liṅga) requires humility and reverence. A sacrifice that ignores or dishonors Śiva rejects the very sanctifying presence that makes ritual fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is discernment and inner worship: before joining public ritual, ground oneself in Śiva-bhakti—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a pure mind—rather than seeking merit through socially prestigious ceremonies.