Shloka 23
दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva
ब्रह्मोवाच । दक्षस्य वचनं श्रुत्वा विष्णुर्दीनतरं तदा । अवोचद्बोधयंस्तं वै शिवतत्त्वपराङ्मुखम्
brahmovāca | dakṣasya vacanaṃ śrutvā viṣṇurdīnataraṃ tadā | avocadbodhayaṃstaṃ vai śivatattvaparāṅmukham
Brahmā said: Hearing Dakṣa’s words, Viṣṇu then became even more sorrowful, and spoke—seeking to instruct that Dakṣa, who had turned away from the true principle (tattva) of Śiva.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Dakṣa’s aversion to Śiva-tattva and Viṣṇu’s attempt to instruct him, setting up the sacrificial conflict that culminates in Śiva’s intervention.
Significance: Didactic: warns that turning away from Śiva-tattva (pati) intensifies bondage (pāśa) and sorrow in the bound soul (paśu).
FAQs
It highlights how pride and ritual-status consciousness can make one “śiva-tattva-parāṅmukha” (turned away from Śiva’s truth). Viṣṇu’s sorrow signals the gravity of deviating from reverence to Pati (Śiva), which in Shaiva Siddhanta is a key cause of bondage and spiritual downfall.
Dakṣa’s aversion to Śiva-tattva foreshadows rejection of Śiva’s worship (including Linga-upāsanā). The verse implies that proper understanding and devotion to Saguna Śiva—approached with humility—restores right vision and prevents sacrilegious attitudes that obstruct grace.
The practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and right understanding through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and respectful Śiva-pūjā (with bhasma/tripuṇḍra if one follows that observance), as antidotes to contempt and ego that turn the mind away from Śiva-tattva.