Shloka 66

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

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

Devanagari script

तत्क्षणादेव दक्षस्य यज्ञवाटं रण्मयम् । प्रविवेश महाबाहुर्वीरभद्रो महानुगः

Transliteration

tatkṣaṇādeva dakṣasya yajñavāṭaṃ raṇmayam | praviveśa mahābāhurvīrabhadro mahānugaḥ

Translation

At that very moment, the mighty-armed Vīrabhadra—followed by his great attendants—entered Dakṣa’s sacrificial enclosure, which had turned into a battlefield.

Word by Word

• tat-kṣaṇāt: from that very moment
• tat-kṣaṇāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Ablative (पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); 'from that moment'

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चय/अवधारण)

• dakṣasya: of Dakṣa
• dakṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yajña-vāṭam: the sacrificial enclosure
• yajña-vāṭam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + vāṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); 'sacrificial enclosure'

• raṇmayam: filled with battle/war-like
• raṇmayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रत्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agreeing with yajña-vāṭam

• praviveśa: entered
• praviveśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√viś (विश् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• mahā-bāhuḥ: the mighty-armed one
• mahā-bāhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet

• vīra-bhadraḥ: Vīrabhadra
• vīra-bhadraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); proper name

• mahā-anugaḥ: the great follower/attendant
• mahā-anugaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + anuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is the Dakṣa-yajña destruction episode: Vīrabhadra, born of Śiva’s wrath/grief after Satī’s insult, storms the yajña-śālā to dismantle adharmic sacrifice.

Significance: Reminds pilgrims that ritual without humility and devotion to Pati (Śiva) becomes empty; true yajña culminates in surrender, not pride.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It marks the turning point where ritual (yajña) performed with ego and disrespect becomes spiritually barren; Vīrabhadra’s entry symbolizes Shiva’s corrective power that restores dharma by breaking pride and re-establishing reverence for Pati (the Lord).

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

The Dakṣa-yajña narrative contrasts mere outer rites with true devotion to Saguna Shiva; honoring Shiva (often through Linga worship) is presented as essential, while sacrifices done without Shiva-bhakti devolve into conflict and loss of sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to purify intention before ritual: perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, and approach worship (including bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa where traditional) as devotion rather than display.