Shloka 23

Devanagari script

कुशमुष्टिमथादाय दधीचस्संस्मरन् शिवम् । ससर्ज सर्वदेवेभ्यो वज्रास्थि सर्वतो वशी

Transliteration

kuśamuṣṭimathādāya dadhīcassaṃsmaran śivam | sasarja sarvadevebhyo vajrāsthi sarvato vaśī

Translation

Then Dadhīca, taking a fistful of kuśa grass and remembering Lord Śiva, the sage who had mastered himself, bestowed upon all the gods his own bones—fit to become the vajra, the thunderbolt.

Word by Word

• kuśa-muṣṭim: a fistful of kuśa-grass
• kuśa-muṣṭim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kuśa (प्रातिपदिक) + muṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (kuśasya muṣṭiḥ) → कर्मपदत्वेन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (particle: then/now)

• ādāya: having taken
• ādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√dā (धाातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपदी; अर्थः—‘गृहीत्वा/आदाय’ (having taken)

• dadhīcaḥ: Dadhīca (the sage)
• dadhīcaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dadhīca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• saṃsmaran: remembering
• saṃsmaran: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√smṛ (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—‘संस्मरन्’ (remembering)

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• sasarja: he produced/created
• sasarja: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛj (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• sarva-devebhyaḥ: from/for all the gods
• sarva-devebhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘सर्वे देवाः’

• vajra-asthi: the thunderbolt-bone (vajra made of bone)
• vajra-asthi: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (प्रातिपदिक) + asthi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (vajrasya asthi)

• sarvataḥ: everywhere/on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययीभावार्थे/दिक्कालवाचक (adverb: on all sides/everywhere)

• vaśī: the self-controlled one
• vaśī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (self-controlled/masterful)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Dadhichi
• Devas

FAQs

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

It presents saṃsmaraṇa (steady remembrance of Śiva) joined with vaśitva (self-mastery) as the inner source of true sacrifice—Dadhīca’s bodily offering becomes sacred because it is made while centered in Śiva, pointing to surrender of the limited self for dharma.

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

Though the Liṅga is not named, the verse models Saguna-Śiva devotion through personal remembrance of Śiva as Lord and refuge; such bhakti is the same inner act that accompanies Liṅga worship—offering one’s best to Śiva and acting as His instrument for cosmic order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is japa and dhyāna through “remembering Śiva” (saṃsmaran śivam), ideally with kuśa as a purity aid in ritual contexts; spiritually, it suggests offering one’s attachments and ego to Śiva with disciplined self-control (vaśī).