Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा दक्षस्य च दुरात्मनः । वीरभद्रो महातेजा मेघसंभीरनिस्स्वनः

Transliteration

tasya tadvacanaṃ śrutvā dakṣasya ca durātmanaḥ | vīrabhadro mahātejā meghasaṃbhīranissvanaḥ

Translation

Hearing those words of wicked-souled Dakṣa, Vīrabhadra—of immense splendor—let forth a deep, thunderous roar, like thunder rolling within a dense cloud.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that (person)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (contextual pronoun)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• वचनम्: speech/statement
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action): ‘having heard’

• दक्षस्य: of Dakṣa
• दक्षस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• दुरात्मनः: of the evil-souled (one)
• दुरात्मनः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषणम् (qualifier) to ‘दक्षस्य’

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीरभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• महातेजाः: of great splendor
• महातेजाः: कर्ता (Karta—appositional qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महातेजस् (प्रातिपदिक: महा+तेजस्)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); विशेषणम् to ‘वीरभद्रः’

• मेघसंभीरनिस्स्वनः: whose sound is deep like thunderclouds
• मेघसंभीरनिस्स्वनः: कर्ता (Karta—appositional qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेघ + संभीर + निस्स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः: ‘मेघवत् संभीरो निस्स्वनः’ (sound deep like a cloud/thunder)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account. The verse intensifies the Dakṣa-yajña crisis: Vīrabhadra’s thunderous roar signals impending destruction of adharmic ritual order.

Significance: Invokes protective awe: Śiva’s fierce grace dismantles sacrilege and restores dharma; devotees seek courage and removal of hostile forces.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Omen-like sonic eruption: ‘megha-saṃbhīra nissvana’ (deep cloud-thunder roar) functions as a cosmic signal of saṃhāra about to manifest within the ritual cosmos.

Characters & Entities

• Virabhadra
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It shows how adharma rooted in ego (Dakṣa’s contempt) provokes a cosmic corrective force—Vīrabhadra—affirming that disrespect toward Śiva (Pati) tightens bondage (pāśa), while humility restores dharma.

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

Vīrabhadra is a Saguna manifestation aligned with Śiva’s will, illustrating that the compassionate Lord also upholds dharma through powerful forms; reverence to the Liṅga symbolizes honoring that supreme authority beyond personal pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter ego with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and sincere śiva-bhakti; on observances like Mahāśivarātri, maintain purity of speech and humility, supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa if one follows those vows.