Shloka 12

दक्षयज्ञे सत्या अपमानबोधः — Satī Encounters Disrespect at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

द्रव्यमंत्रादिकं सर्वं हव्यं कव्यं च यन्मयम् । शंभुना हि विना तेन कथं यज्ञः प्रवर्तितः

Transliteration

dravyamaṃtrādikaṃ sarvaṃ havyaṃ kavyaṃ ca yanmayam | śaṃbhunā hi vinā tena kathaṃ yajñaḥ pravartitaḥ

Translation

All ritual substances, the mantras and their allied rites—indeed every offering for the gods (havya) and for the ancestors (kavya)—are pervaded by Him. Therefore, without Śambhu (Śiva), how could the sacrifice (yajña) ever be rightly set in motion and sustained?

Word by Word

• dravya-mantra-ādikam: materials, mantras, etc.
• dravya-mantra-ādikam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dravya + mantra + ādika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; समाहार-द्वन्द्व: द्रव्यं च मन्त्रः च आदिकं च (and the rest)

• sarvam: all
• sarvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• havyam: oblations to gods (havya)
• havyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: havya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• kavyam: offerings to ancestors (kavya)
• kavyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• yat-mayam: consisting of him/that (pervaded by him)
• yat-mayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yad + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: यत्-मयम् = ‘consisting of which/whose essence is’

• śaṃbhunā: by Śambhu (Śiva)
• śaṃbhunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतु (emphatic/causal particle)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपपद ‘without’

• tena: with him/that
• tena: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• katham: how
• katham: Sambandha/Anvaya (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative adverb)

• yajñaḥ: sacrifice, ritual
• yajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• pravartitaḥ: was set in motion / could proceed
• pravartitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√vṛt (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; ‘set in motion/initiated’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satī-khaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that ritual power is not autonomous: mantra, materials, and offerings bear fruit only because Śiva, the supreme Pati, pervades and empowers them—so devotion and recognition of Śiva are the heart of yajña.

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

The Liṅga represents Śiva as the indwelling reality behind all worship; even when offerings are made through Vedic forms, their true completion is in Śambhu, the Saguna focus through which devotees access the Nirguṇa ground.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform offerings with Śiva-bhāva—mentally dedicating every act to Śambhu—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) so the outer rite becomes inward surrender.