Shloka 3

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

क्रीडासक्ता तदा देवी ददर्शाथ मुदा सती । दक्षयज्ञे प्रयांतं च रोहिण्या पृच्छ्य सत्वरम्

Transliteration

krīḍāsaktā tadā devī dadarśātha mudā satī | dakṣayajñe prayāṃtaṃ ca rohiṇyā pṛcchya satvaram

Translation

Then the Goddess Satī, absorbed in play, joyfully noticed someone setting out for Dakṣa’s sacrifice; and, having quickly asked Rohiṇī about it, she fixed her mind upon what was taking place.

Word by Word

• क्रीडा-सक्ता: absorbed in play
• क्रीडा-सक्ता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक) + सक्त (कृदन्त; √सञ्ज्/सज् धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (क्त/क्तवत्-प्रायः), ‘क्रीडायां सक्ता’ इति सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• देवी: the goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (conjunctive particle: ‘then/and then’)

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भावे (instrumental: ‘with joy’)

• सती: Satī
• सती: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• दक्ष-यज्ञे: in Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• दक्ष-यज्ञे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘दक्षस्य यज्ञः’)

• प्रयान्तम्: going
• प्रयान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), परस्मैपद-परक; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; ‘गच्छन्तम्’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रोहिण्या: by Rohiṇī
• रोहिण्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; साधन/सहकारि-भावे (by/through Rohiṇī)

• पृच्छ्य: having asked
• पृच्छ्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √प्रच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having asked’

• सत्वरम्: quickly
• सत्वरम्: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is part of the Dakṣa-yajña narrative prelude; no Jyotirliṅga identification.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Daksha
• Rohini

FAQs

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

It marks the karmic turning-point where Satī’s innocent joy meets the news of Dakṣa’s yajña—foreshadowing the Shaiva teaching that ritual without humility and devotion to Pati (Śiva) becomes a cause of bondage and sorrow.

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

The Dakṣa-yajña narrative contrasts outer sacrifice with inner surrender: Saguna Śiva is honored through bhakti and reverence, while neglecting Śiva (the very Lord of yajña) shows that mere ritual form cannot replace devotion to the Linga-tattva and Śiva as the indwelling Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to prioritize Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance) and mantra-bhakti—especially japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—so that ritual actions are grounded in devotion rather than social pride or display.