Shloka 14

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

Devanagari script

विष्णुब्रह्मादयो देवा यं संसेव्य महेश्वरम् । प्राप्ताः स्वपदवीं सर्वे तं न जानासि रे हरम्

Transliteration

viṣṇubrahmādayo devā yaṃ saṃsevya maheśvaram | prāptāḥ svapadavīṃ sarve taṃ na jānāsi re haram

Translation

Viṣṇu, Brahmā, and the other gods, by devotedly serving that Great Lord, Maheśvara, have all attained their own exalted stations. Yet you do not recognize Him—Hara, the Lord who removes all bondage.

Word by Word

• viṣṇu-brahma-ādayaḥ: Vishnu, Brahmā and others
• viṣṇu-brahma-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘...आदयः’ = ‘and others beginning with’ (ādi-śabda)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• yam: whom
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• saṃsevya: having served
• saṃsevya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√sev (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्यय; ‘having served/attended’

• maheśvaram: Mahēśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• prāptāḥ: have attained
• prāptāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√āp (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘have attained’

• sva-padavīm: their own status/abode
• sva-padavīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + padavī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘own + rank/state/path’

• sarve: all
• sarve: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying devāḥ)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; संकेत-प्रत्यय (demonstrative)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• jānāsi: you know
• jānāsi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• re: O! / hey!
• re: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: re (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle/exclamation)

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘Hara’ (Śiva)

Speaker

Satī (addressing Dakṣa in admonition, within Sūtā’s narration to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Highlights Śiva as the giver of adhikāra and padavī (stations) even to Viṣṇu and Brahmā; reinforces pilgrimage/pujā as ‘saṃsevā’ culminating in grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse asserts Śiva (Hara/Maheśvara) as the supreme Pati: even the highest devas attain their powers and stations through devotion to Him, while ignorance of Śiva is portrayed as the root spiritual error.

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

By emphasizing ‘service’ (saṃsevā) to Maheśvara, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through reverent devotion (often expressed as Liṅga-pūjā) as a valid means to attain divine grace and spiritual elevation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is consistent bhakti-sevā to Śiva—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular worship of Maheśvara (Liṅga-archana with devotion), cultivating humility rather than pride of status.