Shloka 15

शङ्खचूडदूतागमनम् — The Arrival of Śaṅkhacūḍa’s Envoy

and Praise of Śiva

Devanagari script

दक्षः प्रीत्या ददौ तस्मै निजकन्यास्त्रयोदश । तास्वेका च दनुस्साध्वी तत्सौभाग्यविवर्द्धिनी

Transliteration

dakṣaḥ prītyā dadau tasmai nijakanyāstrayodaśa | tāsvekā ca danussādhvī tatsaubhāgyavivarddhinī

Translation

Pleased at heart, Dakṣa bestowed upon him his own thirteen daughters. Among them was the virtuous Danu, who increased his fortune and auspicious prosperity.

Word by Word

• dakṣaḥ: Dakṣa
• dakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• dadau: gave
• dadau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasmai: to him
• tasmai: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nija-kanyāḥ: his own daughters
• nija-kanyāḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: 'own' + 'daughters'

• trayodaśa: thirteen
• trayodaśa: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: trayodaśan (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), Indeclinable-like in usage here; agreeing with kanyāḥ as 'thirteen' (त्रयोदश)

• tāsu: among them/in them
• tāsu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ekā: one (female)
• ekā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• danuḥ: Danu
• danuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: danu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sādhvī: virtuous
• sādhvī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sādhvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies danuḥ

• tat-saubhāgya-vivardhinī: increasing his good fortune
• tat-saubhāgya-vivardhinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + saubhāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + vivardhinī (कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त, from √vṛdh with vi-)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: tasya saubhāgyasya vivardhinī = 'increaser of his good fortune'; qualifies danuḥ/ekā

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Danu

FAQs

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

It shows how worldly prosperity and alliances arise from social-dharmic actions, yet in Shaiva understanding such “saubhāgya” remains within the realm of the world (pāśa) and is not the final aim; true fulfillment culminates in turning toward Pati (Shiva) for liberation.

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

By highlighting worldly gifts and fortune, the verse indirectly contrasts them with the higher refuge of Saguna Shiva worship—devotion to Shiva and the Linga is presented in the Purana as the stable source of grace beyond changing social fortunes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this line; the practical takeaway consistent with Rudra Samhita is to seek auspiciousness through Shiva-bhakti—daily remembrance of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and reverence to Shiva as the giver of enduring good.