Shloka 17

दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

वज्रेण तं च चिच्छेद दधीचं ताडितः क्षुवः । जगर्जातीव संक्रुद्धो ब्रह्मांडाधिपतिः कुधीः

Transliteration

vajreṇa taṃ ca ciccheda dadhīcaṃ tāḍitaḥ kṣuvaḥ | jagarjātīva saṃkruddho brahmāṃḍādhipatiḥ kudhīḥ

Translation

Struck in turn, Kṣuva cleft Dadhīca with the thunderbolt (vajra), cutting him down. And the lord of the cosmic sphere, his mind clouded by wrath, roared as though in furious anger.

Word by Word

• वज्रेण: with the thunderbolt
• वज्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/अन्वय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• चिच्छेद: cut / severed
• चिच्छेद: क्रिया (Kriyā/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• दधीचम्: Dadhīca
• दधीचम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ताडितः: struck
• ताडितः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताड् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past passive participle, -ta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying)

• क्षुवः: Kṣuva
• क्षुवः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षुव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• जगर्ज: roared
• जगर्ज: क्रिया (Kriyā/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• इव: as if
• इव: उपमान-सम्बन्ध (Comparative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमार्थक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• संक्रुद्धः: enraged
• संक्रुद्धः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सं + क्रुध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि-क्त (past participle, -ta), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिः: lord of the universe-egg (Brahmāṇḍa)
• ब्रह्माण्डाधिपतिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माण्ड + अधिपति (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative): ब्रह्माण्डस्य अधिपतिः

• कुधीः: evil-minded / of bad intellect
• कुधीः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Appositive/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु + धी (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: कुदीः = कुत्सिता धीः यस्य/कुत्सिता धीः (one of evil intellect)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Characters & Entities

• Dadhichi
• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how even exalted power, when driven by krodha (wrath), becomes ku-dhī (clouded discernment). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such agitation is a form of pāśa (bondage) that veils right understanding; steadiness and dharma-oriented clarity are essential for moving toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

By contrasting rage-filled cosmic authority with the need for inner purity, the verse indirectly points to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-archana) as a discipline that refines the mind—reducing krodha and ego. Linga worship trains the devotee to align action with dharma and to seek Shiva as the true Pati (Lord) beyond shifting emotions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is krodha-śamana through japa and discipline: repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with breath-awareness, and adopt simple śiva-ācāra such as vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and daily Shiva-smaraṇa to stabilize the mind and prevent wrath-driven action.