Shloka 21

दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva

Devanagari script

विष्णो त्वं कर्मणां साक्षी यज्ञानां प्रतिपालकः । धर्मस्य वेदगर्भस्य ब्रह्मणस्त्वं महाप्रभो

Transliteration

viṣṇo tvaṃ karmaṇāṃ sākṣī yajñānāṃ pratipālakaḥ | dharmasya vedagarbhasya brahmaṇastvaṃ mahāprabho

Translation

O Viṣṇu, You are the witness of all actions and the protector of sacrifices. You are the mighty Lord who upholds Dharma—Dharma rooted in the Vedas—and You are also the great sustainer of Brahmā.

Word by Word

• विष्णो: O Viṣṇu
• विष्णो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्मणाम्: of (all) actions/rites
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate): ‘त्वं साक्षी’

• यज्ञानाम्: of sacrifices
• यज्ञानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• प्रतिपालकः: protector/maintainer
• प्रतिपालकः: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (protector)

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वेद-गर्भस्य: whose essence is the Veda
• वेद-गर्भस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदः गर्भः यस्य (वेदगर्भः) ‘having the Veda as its essence’; विशेषणम् (धर्मस्य)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman / of Brahmā (context-dependent)
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाप्रभो: O great lord
• महाप्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महा + प्रभुः

Speaker

Sati (addressing Lord Vishnu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Dharma
• Vedas
• Yajna

FAQs

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

The verse highlights divine oversight of karma and yajña: the Lord is the inner witness (sākṣī) who ensures that Veda-rooted Dharma is upheld, reminding devotees that outer ritual must align with inner righteousness.

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

Within a Shaiva reading, it complements Linga worship by stressing that all sacred acts (karma, yajña, dharma) are ultimately validated by the Supreme Lord; Linga devotion emphasizes offering every action as worship, beyond mere ritual performance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily duties as karma-yajña with the awareness of the inner Witness—supporting practice such as japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and offering actions mentally at the Linga as an inner sacrifice.