Shloka 27

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

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

Devanagari script

कुलिशोद्योतितकरं तडिज्ज्वलितमूर्धजम् । दंष्ट्राकरालं बिभ्राणं महावक्त्रं महोदरम्

Transliteration

kuliśodyotitakaraṃ taḍijjvalitamūrdhajam | daṃṣṭrākarālaṃ bibhrāṇaṃ mahāvaktraṃ mahodaram

Translation

His hand shone as if lit by the thunderbolt; his matted hair blazed like lightning. Bearing fearsome fangs, with a vast mouth and a mighty belly, he appeared in an awe-inspiring form—terrible to bondage, yet a vehicle of the Lord’s grace.

Word by Word

• कुलिशोद्योतितकरम्: whose hand shines with a thunderbolt
• कुलिशोद्योतितकरम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुलिश + उद्योतित + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष (कुलिशेन उद्योतितः करः यस्य = whose hand is illumined by a thunderbolt); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• तडित्-ज्वलित-मूर्धजम्: with hair blazing like lightning
• तडित्-ज्वलित-मूर्धजम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तडित् + ज्वलित + मूर्धज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (तडित्-इव ज्वलिताः मूर्धजाः यस्य = whose hair blazes like lightning); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• दंष्ट्राकरालम्: fearsome with fangs
• दंष्ट्राकरालम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दंष्ट्रा + कराल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय (दंष्ट्राभिः करालः = frightful with fangs); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• बिभ्राणम्: bearing
• बिभ्राणम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भृ (धातु) → बिभ्राण (कृदन्त, शतृ/Present active participle)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (Present Active Participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘धारयन्तम्’ = bearing

• महावक्त्रम्: great-faced
• महावक्त्रम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (महद् वक्त्रम् = great mouth/face); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• महोदरम्: big-bellied
• महोदरम्: विशेषण (of कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + उदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (महत् उदरम् = great belly); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Lightning hair, thunderbolt brilliance, fangs and vast belly portray the time-devouring, fearsome executive of Śiva’s will—an image of Kāla mastered and deployed for dharma-restoration.

Significance: Invokes protective fearlessness: the ghorarūpa terrifies pāśa (bondage) and steadies the paśu toward surrender; remembrance of such forms is said to burn impurities (mala) through divine power.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse evokes a fierce, radiant manifestation associated with Rudra—symbolizing the Lord’s power to burn impurities and cut the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu), leading it toward Shiva (Pati) through grace.

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

It supports Saguna-upāsanā: contemplating Shiva’s formidable yet auspicious form steadies devotion and surrender, which culminates in Linga-worship where the same Lord is adored as the all-pervading, liberating presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Dhyāna on Rudra’s blazing form while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), paired with Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha, is a traditional takeaway for purification and protection.