Shloka 54

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

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

Devanagari script

शूलशक्तिगदाहस्ताष्टंकोपलशिलाधराः । कालाग्निरुद्रसदृशास्त्रिनेत्राश्च जटाधराः

Transliteration

śūlaśaktigadāhastāṣṭaṃkopalaśilādharāḥ | kālāgnirudrasadṛśāstrinetrāśca jaṭādharāḥ

Translation

Those fierce attendants of the Lord bore tridents, spears, and maces in their hands, and held aloft mountain-peaks and massive rocks. They appeared like Kālāgnirudra himself—three-eyed and matted-haired—embodying the awe-inspiring, protective power of Śiva’s manifest (saguṇa) might.

Word by Word

• śūla-śakti-gadā-hastāḥ: having trident-, spear-, and mace-in-hand
• śūla-śakti-gadā-hastāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; ‘शूल-शक्ति-गदा-हस्त’ = whose hands have trident, spear, and mace

• aṣṭaṃka-upala-śilā-dharāḥ: bearing eight-marked stones/rocks
• aṣṭaṃka-upala-śilā-dharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aṣṭaṃka (प्रातिपदिक) + upala (प्रातिपदिक) + śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहिसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘aṣṭaṃka’ (eight-marked/with eight signs) + upala/śilā (stone/rock) + dhara (bearing)

• kāla-agni-rudra-sadṛśāḥ: resembling Kāla, Agni, and Rudra
• kāla-agni-rudra-sadṛśāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + rudra (प्रातिपदिक) + sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (उपमान/सादृश्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘kālāgnirudra-sadṛśa’ = similar to Kāla, Agni, and Rudra

• tri-netrāḥ: three-eyed
• tri-netrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगुसमासः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘three-eyed’

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

• jaṭā-dharāḥ: wearing matted hair
• jaṭā-dharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jaṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमासः (षष्ठी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘bearing matted locks’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kālāgni imagery (time-fire) anticipating pralaya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Kālāgnirudra

FAQs

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

It portrays Śiva’s attendants as embodiments of his saguṇa (manifest) power—terrible to ignorance and obstacles, yet protective to devotees—showing that divine grace can appear as fierce strength when dharma must be upheld.

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

While the Liṅga points to the formless (nirguṇa) reality of Śiva, this verse emphasizes the manifest (saguṇa) aspect—Śiva’s active sovereignty expressed through Rudra-like forms that guard the sacred and remove impediments to devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to meditate on Śiva as Tri-netra (three-eyed) while chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and to adopt Śaiva marks like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of inner purification and fearless refuge in Śiva.