Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20
दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva
दक्ष उवाच । भवद्बलेनैव मया यज्ञः प्रारंभितो महान् । सत्कर्मसिद्धये विष्णो प्रमाणं त्वं महाप्रभो
dakṣa uvāca | bhavadbalenaiva mayā yajñaḥ prāraṃbhito mahān | satkarmasiddhaye viṣṇo pramāṇaṃ tvaṃ mahāprabho
Dakṣa dit : «C’est par Ta seule puissance que j’ai entrepris ce grand sacrifice. Ô Viṣṇu, ô Souverain suprême, pour que ce rite juste s’accomplisse, Tu es l’aval faisant autorité et l’appui infaillible.»
Daksha
Tattva Level: pashu
Type: stotra
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse highlights that even grand Vedic rites succeed only through divine śakti (power) and grace; ritual (karma) must be grounded in humility and recognition of the Supreme’s sanction, not merely personal pride or status.
In the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative, Dakṣa’s emphasis on ritual authority foreshadows the Shaiva teaching that worship of the Lord (Pati)—often through Saguna forms like the Liṅga—cannot be replaced by ritualism alone; devotion and right recognition of the Lord are essential for true siddhi.
The practical takeaway is to begin any pūjā or yajña with surrender and prayer for divine approval—invoking the Lord’s grace—rather than relying only on external correctness; a bhakti-oriented sankalpa and remembrance of the Lord’s name is implied.