Shloka 23

वीरभद्रस्य गमनप्रस्थानम् — Vīrabhadra’s Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

कुण्डी द्वादशकोटीभिस्तथा पर्वतको मुने । विनाशितुं दक्षयज्ञं निर्ययौ गणसत्तम

Transliteration

kuṇḍī dvādaśakoṭībhistathā parvatako mune | vināśituṃ dakṣayajñaṃ niryayau gaṇasattama

Translation

O sage, Kuṇḍī—together with twelve koṭis of Gaṇas—and Parvataka, foremost among Śiva’s attendants, marched forth to annihilate Dakṣa’s sacrifice.

Word by Word

कुण्डीKuṇḍī (name)

द्वादश-कोटीभिःwith twelve crores

तथाalso

पर्वतकःParvataka (name)

मुनेO sage

विनाशितुम्to destroy

दक्ष-यज्ञम्Dakṣa’s sacrifice

निर्ययौwent forth/set out

गण-सत्तमO best of the gaṇas

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

Shiva

Daksha

Ganas

Kundi

Parvataka

FAQs

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

It shows that ritual power (yajña) collapses when driven by ego and disrespect toward Śiva; the Lord’s gaṇas represent the force of dharma that restores divine order when devotion is violated.

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

Dakṣa’s sacrifice symbolizes external religiosity without honoring Saguna Śiva, the accessible Lord worshipped as the Liṅga; the gaṇas’ intervention underscores that Śiva must be the heart of worship, not a neglected bystander.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humble Śiva-bhakti alongside any rite—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with reverence, and avoid pride in outward ritual divorced from inner surrender.