Shloka 23

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । तस्यास्तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा सत्या देवो महेश्वरः । दक्ष वागिषुहृद्विद्धो बभाषे सूनृतं वचः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | tasyāstadvacanaṃ śrutvā satyā devo maheśvaraḥ | dakṣa vāgiṣuhṛdviddho babhāṣe sūnṛtaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Hearing those words of Satī, Lord Maheśvara—though His heart was pierced by Dakṣa’s arrow-like speech—replied with words that were gentle and true.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (वचनम् इति)

• वचनम्: speech/statement
• वचनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• सत्या: with Sati / by Sati
• सत्या: Sahakari (सहकारी/Instrumental associate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन/सहकारक-भावे (with/through Sati)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महेश्वरः: Mahēśvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् ईश्वरः)

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

• वागिषुहृद्विद्धः: pierced in the heart by speech-arrows
• वागिषुहृद्विद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाक् + इषु + हृद् + विध् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle) ‘विद्ध’; तत्पुरुष-समास (वागिषुभिः हृदि विद्धः)

• बभाषे: spoke
• बभाषे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सूनृतम्: truthful, gentle
• सूनृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सूनृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (वचः इति)

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Shiva (Maheshvara)
• Sati
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati—the ever-compassionate Lord—who remains inwardly steady even when provoked, responding with truthful and gentle speech. This models the Shaiva ideal of self-mastery, where anger is not allowed to bind the soul (paśu) through further karma.

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

Saguna Śiva is worshipped as the compassionate, accessible Lord who protects devotees through grace and dharma. This verse portrays that same gracious nature—Śiva does not mirror hostility, teaching devotees to approach the Liṅga with purity, restraint, and devotion rather than reactive emotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech): before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” resolve to speak sūnṛta—truth that is also gentle. As a simple vrata, maintain a period of mauna (measured silence) and then offer calm, truthful prayer at the Śiva-liṅga.