Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

अकस्मान्मम भर्तारमजाताशेषदूषणम् । वाचा दूषयसे दक्ष साक्षाल्लोकमहेश्वरम्

Transliteration

akasmānmama bhartāramajātāśeṣadūṣaṇam | vācā dūṣayase dakṣa sākṣāllokamaheśvaram

Translation

Ô Dakṣa, sans raison tu diffames par tes paroles mon Seigneur et époux—en qui jamais aucune faute n’est née—le Mahādeva lui-même, le grand Seigneur des mondes, présent devant tous.

Word by Word

• अकस्मात्: suddenly, without cause
• अकस्मात्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अकस्मात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/आकस्मिकतावाचक (adverb)

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भर्तारम्: husband
• भर्तारम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अजात-अशेष-दूषणम्: free from any fault
• अजात-अशेष-दूषणम्: कर्म-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अजात (प्रातिपदिक) + अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + दूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः; अर्थः ‘अशेषाणि दूषणानि यस्य न जातानि’ (निर्दोषम्)

• वाचा: by speech, with words
• वाचा: करण (तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• दूषयसे: you insult/defame
• दूषयसे: क्रिया (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दूष् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन

• दक्ष: O Dakṣa
• दक्ष: सम्बोधन
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• साक्षात्: directly, in person
• साक्षात्: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रत्यक्षतावाचक (adverb/particle)

• लोक-महेश्वरम्: the great lord of the worlds (Śiva)
• लोक-महेश्वरम्: कर्म (द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य महेश्वरः)

Speaker

Sati (Dakshayani)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames Śiva as sākṣāt Lokamaheśvara—present and sovereign even when unrecognized in the yajña; Dakṣa’s blindness exemplifies tirodhāna (concealment) operating through ego and ritual pride.

Significance: Cultivates reverence for Śiva as immediate Lord; warns that disparaging the Guru/Lord blocks grace and invites downfall.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Sati

FAQs

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

It condemns causeless slander of the Pati (Śiva), portraying Him as nirdoṣa (faultless) and Lokamaheśvara; spiritually, it warns that ego-driven contempt for the Divine severs one from grace and dharma.

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

By calling Śiva “sākṣāt” (manifest), the verse supports Saguna devotion—reverence to Śiva as personally present and worthy of worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā), not as a mere concept to be judged by worldly pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Guarding speech (vāk-saṃyama) as a devotional discipline: replace criticism with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and respectful remembrance of Śiva as Mahādeva.