Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

दृष्टाऽनतं हरं तत्र स मे पुत्रोऽप्रसन्नधीः । अकुपत्सहसा रुद्रे तदा दक्षः प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭā'nataṃ haraṃ tatra sa me putro'prasannadhīḥ | akupatsahasā rudre tadā dakṣaḥ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

Là, voyant que Hara (Śiva) ne s’inclinait pas, ce fils mien — Daksha Prajāpati, l’esprit contrarié — s’emporta soudain contre Rudra.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त, त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable gerund)

• anatam: bowing / saluting
• anatam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nata (प्रातिपदिक; √nam क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th) / चतुर्थी (4th) एकवचन (enclitic); अत्र षष्ठी-सम्बन्धे (genitive)

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• aprasanna-dhīḥ: one whose mind was displeased
• aprasanna-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (निषेध) + prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अप्रसन्ना धीः यस्य सः (whose mind is displeased)

• akupat: became angry
• akupat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kup (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; नकारार्थे अ-आगम (aorist-like augment not; here लङ्)

• sahasā: suddenly / rashly
• sahasā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sahasā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: suddenly/impetuously)

• rudre: towards Rudra
• rudre: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; अधिकरण/विषय (with anger: towards Rudra)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण

• dakṣaḥ: Dakṣa
• dakṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• prajāpatiḥ: the Prajāpati
• prajāpatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajāpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद/उपाधि (apposition to Dakṣa)

Speaker

Satī (narrating about her father Dakṣa to Śiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Hara
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights how ahaṅkāra (ego) and insistence on external honor can distort intelligence, causing hostility toward Śiva, the supreme Pati; liberation in Śaiva thought arises from humility and surrender, not social pride.

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

Dakṣa’s demand for obeisance reflects attachment to status, while Saguna Śiva (Hara/Rudra) is worshiped as the compassionate Lord beyond worldly rank; Linga-worship trains the devotee to honor Śiva as the highest reality rather than seeking recognition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice humble japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a devotional mindset, offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) or simple water to Śiva while consciously relinquishing pride and the need for validation.