Shloka 20

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

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

संधाय पूर्ववद्देहं दधीचस्याह भार्गवः । शिवभक्ताग्रणीर्भृत्यं जयविद्याप्रवर्तकः

Transliteration

saṃdhāya pūrvavaddehaṃ dadhīcasyāha bhārgavaḥ | śivabhaktāgraṇīrbhṛtyaṃ jayavidyāpravartakaḥ

Translation

Restoring Dadhīca’s body to its former state, Bhārgava spoke: “He is foremost among Śiva’s devotees, a loyal attendant, and the one who set in motion the conquering Vidyā—the knowledge that grants victory.”

Word by Word

• संधाय: having restored
• संधाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having joined/restored’

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (as before)

• देहम्: body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• दधीचस्य: of Dadhīca
• दधीचस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/ब्रू (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भार्गवः: Bhārgava (Śukra)
• भार्गवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• शिव-भक्त-अग्रणीः: leader among Śiva-devotees
• शिव-भक्त-अग्रणीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (‘leader among Śiva’s devotees’)

• भृत्यम्: servant, attendant
• भृत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; संबोधनार्थे/उक्तिविषय (object of address)

• जय-विद्या-प्रवर्तकः: promoter of the victory-lore
• जय-विद्या-प्रवर्तकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘promoter/teacher of the victory-knowledge’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dadhichi
• Bhargava

FAQs

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

It praises the Shaiva ideal: the highest “victory” is gained through Śiva-bhakti—humble service and steadfast devotion that invite Shiva’s grace and restore wholeness (symbolized by the body being made ‘as before’).

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

By calling someone the foremost devotee and a faithful attendant, the verse highlights Saguna Shiva worship—devotion expressed through reverent service, mantra/vidyā, and ritual commitment typically centered on the Linga as the accessible form of Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points toward japa and vidyā-sādhana under guidance—practicing Shiva-mantra (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a sevā-bhāva (spirit of service), supported by purity disciplines such as bhasma and Rudraksha where traditional.