Shloka 58

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

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । अथ ज्ञात्वा दधीचस्य ह्यवध्यत्वं महात्मनः । सस्मारास्य महेशस्य प्रभावमतुलं हरिः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | atha jñātvā dadhīcasya hyavadhyatvaṃ mahātmanaḥ | sasmārāsya maheśasya prabhāvamatulaṃ hariḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Then, having understood that the great-souled Dadhīca was indeed invulnerable, Hari (Viṣṇu) recalled the incomparable power and majesty of Maheśa (Lord Śiva).

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• दधीचस्य: of Dadhīca
• दधीचस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दधीच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (particle: indeed/for)

• अवध्यत्वम्: invulnerability; not being killable
• अवध्यत्वम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवध्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• महात्मनः: of the great-souled one
• महात्मनः: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• अस्य: of him
• अस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (Masculine/Neuter), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभावम्: power, majesty
• प्रभावम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अतुलम्: incomparable
• अतुलम्: कर्म (Karma/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of ‘प्रभावम्’

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Dadhichi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that when worldly power meets a limit (Dadhīca’s invulnerability), the wise turn toward the supreme divine agency—Maheśa’s incomparable śakti—affirming Śiva as the ultimate refuge and transcendent Lord (Pati) in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Remembering Maheśa’s ‘atula prabhāva’ supports Saguna Shiva-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Śiva’s manifest sovereignty and grace (often approached through the Liṅga) as the effective, accessible form through which divine power operates in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is smaraṇa (devotional recollection): mentally invoke Lord Śiva’s glory while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya,’ optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steady remembrance.