Shloka 55
व्योमवाणी-श्रवणं, गणानां शरणागमनं, सती-दाह-वृत्तान्तः — Hearing the Heavenly Voice; The Gaṇas Seek Refuge; Account of Satī’s Self-Immolation
सपत्नीकान्ससारांश्च दक्षयागस्थलस्थितान् । प्रज्वाल्य भस्मसात्कृत्वा पुनरायाहि सत्वरम्
sapatnīkānsasārāṃśca dakṣayāgasthalasthitān | prajvālya bhasmasātkṛtvā punarāyāhi satvaram
“Set ablaze all those present at Daksha’s sacrificial arena—together with their wives and their entire retinues—reduce them to ashes, and then return here at once.”
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: This verse belongs to the Dakṣa-yajña destruction cycle (Satīkhaṇḍa): Śiva’s command initiates punitive dissolution of an adharmic sacrifice that excluded Śiva and insulted Satī.
Significance: Functions as a paradigmatic warning: ritual without devotion and right recognition of Pati (Śiva) becomes pāśa (bondage) and collapses; remembrance is used for inner purification of pride and ritualism.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It shows Rudra’s role as the purifier who destroys ego-driven ritualism. By reducing the yajna-assembly to bhasma, the text emphasizes impermanence and the Shaiva Siddhanta truth that liberation comes through Shiva’s grace and humility, not prideful sacrifice.
The Daksha-yajna narrative contrasts external ceremony with devotion to Saguna Shiva, the personal Lord who accepts bhakti. The ash (bhasma) imagery also aligns with Shaiva practice—honoring Shiva as the one who dissolves all forms and sanctifies the devotee through detachment.
The verse points to the symbolism of bhasma (sacred ash): meditating on life’s transience and offering one’s ego into Shiva. In practice, devotees apply tripundra bhasma with remembrance of Shiva (often with the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a discipline of humility and inner renunciation.