Shloka 4

नभोवाणी-दक्ष-निन्दा तथा सती-माहात्म्य-प्रतिपादनम् / The Celestial Voice Rebukes Dakṣa and Proclaims Satī’s Greatness

Devanagari script

निर्गतस्ते मखाद्विप्रः शापं दत्त्वा सुदुस्सहम् । ततोपि बुद्धं किंचिन्नो त्वया मूढेन चेतसि

Transliteration

nirgataste makhādvipraḥ śāpaṃ dattvā sudussaham | tatopi buddhaṃ kiṃcinno tvayā mūḍhena cetasi

Translation

The brāhmaṇa has departed from your sacrifice after uttering a most unbearable curse. Yet even then you have understood nothing at all—your mind remains deluded.

Word by Word

• nirgataḥ: went out/departed
• nirgataḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-√gam (गम्) (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta PPP (क्त) used in active sense, Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• te: of you/your
• te: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; pronoun

• makhāt: from the sacrifice
• makhāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: makha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular

• vipraḥ: the brāhmaṇa
• vipraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vipra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śāpam: a curse
• śāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dattvā: having given/uttered
• dattvā: Kriyā (क्रिया-पूर्वक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा) (धातु) + tvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable verbal form; prior action

• su-dussaham: very unbearable
• su-dussaham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + dussaha (प्रातिपदिक) (समास/उपपद)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifies śāpam; su- intensifier with dussaha

• tataḥ: thereafter/from that
• tataḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; ablatival adverb (तस्मात्-अर्थे)

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (अपि = also/even)

• buddham: understood/known
• buddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √budh (बुध्) (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta PPP (क्त) used adjectivally, Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; with kiṃcit

• kiṃcit: anything (at all)
• kiṃcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; indefinite pronoun (किञ्चित्)

• naḥ: of us/our
• naḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; enclitic pronoun

• tvayā: by you
• tvayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद्) (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• mūḍhena: deluded
• mūḍhena: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mūḍha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agrees with implied 'tvayā' (you, being deluded)

• cetasi: in (your) mind
• cetasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satīkhanda episode to the sages, conveying the rebuke within the story)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that ritual power without inner humility becomes bondage: even a clear karmic warning (a curse) does not help if the mind is clouded by ego and disrespect toward Śiva and dharma.

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

The Satīkhaṇḍa repeatedly contrasts prideful yajña with devoted recognition of Śiva as Pati (the Lord). Linga/Saguṇa worship trains the mind in reverence and surrender, preventing the delusion that mere external rite is sufficient.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śiva-bhakti alongside worship: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and sincere repentance for ego-driven actions.