Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
ब्रह्मोवाच । इति दक्षोक्तमाकर्ण्य भृग्वाद्या बहवो जनाः । अगर्हयन् दुष्टसत्त्वं रुद्रं मत्त्वामरैस्समम्
brahmovāca | iti dakṣoktamākarṇya bhṛgvādyā bahavo janāḥ | agarhayan duṣṭasattvaṃ rudraṃ mattvāmaraissamam
Brahmā dit : Ayant entendu les paroles de Dakṣa, beaucoup—à commencer par Bhṛgu—accablèrent Rudra d’injures, le jugeant de nature mauvaise et le tenant pour simplement égal aux autres dieux.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
FAQs
The verse highlights how collective opinion can follow ego-driven speech and fall into Śiva-aparādha (offense to Shiva). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, mistaking Rudra’s supreme nature (Pati) and judging Him through ordinary moral labels blocks devotion and right knowledge, which are essential for liberation.
By describing Rudra as ‘merely equal to the devas,’ the verse shows the error of reducing Shiva to a limited rank. Linga and Saguna-Śiva worship trains the mind to recognize Shiva as the supreme Lord who pervades and transcends the gods, making devotion steady and free from contempt or comparison.
The implied takeaway is to avoid Shiva-nindā (disparagement) and cultivate reverence through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Shaiva observances like applying vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and offering water to the Shiva-linga with a prayer for humility and right understanding.