Shloka 1
नभोवाणी-दक्ष-निन्दा तथा सती-माहात्म्य-प्रतिपादनम् / The Celestial Voice Rebukes Dakṣa and Proclaims Satī’s Greatness
ब्रह्मोवाच । एतस्मिन्नन्तरे तत्र नभोवाणी मुनीश्वर । अवोचच्छृण्वतां दक्षसुरादीनां यथार्थतः
brahmovāca | etasminnantare tatra nabhovāṇī munīśvara | avocacchṛṇvatāṃ dakṣasurādīnāṃ yathārthataḥ
Brahmā said: “O lord among sages, at that very moment a celestial voice was heard there, speaking the truth plainly, while Dakṣa, the gods, and the others listened.”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: A ‘voice from the sky’ intervenes to state yathārtha (truth) publicly—functioning as divine correction of the sacrificial assembly.
Significance: Models śravaṇa (listening) as a salvific act: even gods must hear truth when ritual pride eclipses dharma.
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: Ākāśavāṇī (celestial proclamation) — a Purāṇic ‘cosmic broadcast’ signaling imminent divine judgment and reorientation.
FAQs
The verse signals divine intervention through an ākāśavāṇī (celestial proclamation), emphasizing that higher truth (yathārthataḥ) overrides ego-driven ritualism—an important Shaiva theme where dharma aligns with Shiva’s cosmic order.
Although the Liṅga is not named here, the ‘voice from the sky’ functions like Shiva’s guiding presence in the world—Saguna Shiva directing beings toward right understanding when pride or conflict distorts sacred action.
The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and humility: receive scriptural or divine instruction attentively, then align one’s worship—such as mantra-japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with truth rather than mere social or ritual status.