Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

स्मृत्वा शिवं महेशानं स्वप्रभुं परमेश्वरम् । अवदच्छिवतत्त्वज्ञो दक्षं सबोधयन्हरिः

Transliteration

smṛtvā śivaṃ maheśānaṃ svaprabhuṃ parameśvaram | avadacchivatattvajño dakṣaṃ sabodhayanhariḥ

Translation

Remembering Śiva—the Great Lord (Maheśāna), his own Master and the Supreme Īśvara—Hari (Viṣṇu), the knower of Śiva’s true principle, spoke to Dakṣa, instructing and awakening his understanding.

Word by Word

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund, क्त्वा), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having remembered)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• महेशानम्: the Great Lord
• महेशानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; शिवस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• स्व-प्रभुम्: one's own lord
• स्व-प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (स्वः प्रभुः)

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• अवत्: spoke
• अवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (अवदत्)

• शिव-तत्त्व-ज्ञः: knower of Śiva’s true principle
• शिव-तत्त्व-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (शिवस्य तत्त्वं जानाति इति) विशेषण

• दक्षम्: Dakṣa
• दक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• स-बोधयन्: instructing, making understand
• स-बोधयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-बुध् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (present participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी धातु; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (while instructing)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Hari (Vishnu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Daksha

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva) as the basis for right understanding: even Hari speaks as a knower of Śiva-tattva, affirming Śiva as Parameśvara (Pati), who grants clarity and the path toward liberation.

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

By presenting Śiva as the Supreme Lord who can be remembered and addressed, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through worshipful recollection, which in Purāṇic practice is naturally expressed through Liṅga-pūjā and nāma-japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śiva-smaraṇa—steady remembrance of Śiva—commonly reinforced through mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and devotional contemplation before worship.