Shloka 23

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नेव काले तु ज्ञात्वैतत्सर्वमीश्वरात् । दग्धुं दक्षाध्वरं विप्रा देवी देवमचोदयत्

Transliteration

etasminneva kāle tu jñātvaitatsarvamīśvarāt | dagdhuṃ dakṣādhvaraṃ viprā devī devamacodayat

Translation

At that very time, having understood everything from the Lord, the Goddess—O sages—urged the Deva (Śiva) to burn Dakṣa’s sacrificial rite.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• एव: just / indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• काले: time
• काले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but / indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विशेषार्थ/विरोधार्थ

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund): 'having known'

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ज्ञात्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वम्: all (of it)
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; एतत्-विशेषण

• ईश्वरात्: from the Lord
• ईश्वरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• दग्धुम्: to burn
• दग्धुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दह् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive): 'to burn'

• दक्ष-अध्वरम्: Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• दक्ष-अध्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of दग्धुम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष + अध्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'Dakṣa's sacrifice'

• विप्रा: O wise lady / the wise one
• विप्रा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to देवी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (address/apposition; feminine form used for Devī)

• देवी: the Goddess
• देवी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• देवम्: the god (Śiva)
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अचोदयत्: urged / prompted
• अचोदयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अ-√चुद् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense 'impelled/urged'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Context is the Dakṣa-yajña episode: Satī, having grasped the Lord’s intent and the adharma of Dakṣa’s rite, impels Śiva toward the destruction of the yajña—an archetypal purāṇic critique of egoic ritualism devoid of devotion.

Significance: Frames the principle that ritual (yajña) without Śiva-bhakti and right recognition (jñāna) becomes pāśa (bondage); grace operates even through corrective dissolution.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights that when ritual becomes tainted by ego and exclusion of Īśvara, Divine wisdom directs its dissolution—showing that true dharma is God-centered humility, not mere sacrificial display.

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

The verse emphasizes Śiva as Īśvara who governs outcomes beyond external rites; Saguna worship of Śiva (including the Liṅga) is portrayed as the rightful center of sacrifice and devotion, without which ritual loses sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to purify intention before worship—perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offer devotion with humility, treating ritual as Śiva-arpana (offering to Śiva) rather than as personal prestige.