Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

तदा दक्षस्य धर्मार्थं यज्ञे तस्य दुरात्मनः । महेशः कृतवान्विघ्नं मना ववस्वते सति

Transliteration

tadā dakṣasya dharmārthaṃ yajñe tasya durātmanaḥ | maheśaḥ kṛtavānvighnaṃ manā vavasvate sati

Translation

Alors, afin de soutenir le vrai dharma, Maheśa suscita un obstacle dans le sacrifice du malveillant Dakṣa—par sa seule volonté—tandis que Vivasvat (le Soleil) en était témoin.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• दक्षस्य: of Dakṣa
• दक्षस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• धर्म-अर्थम्: for the sake of dharma
• धर्म-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (धर्मस्य अर्थः)

• यज्ञे: in the sacrifice
• यज्ञे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दुरात्मनः: of the evil-minded one
• दुरात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुरात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (दुरः आत्मा यस्य)

• महेशः: Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कृतवान्: did/made
• कृतवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृतवत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्तवत्/Perfective past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘did/has done’

• विघ्नम्: obstacle
• विघ्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विघ्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मना: by mind
• मना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; वैदिक/छान्दस-रूप ‘मनसा’ अर्थे

• ववस्वते: when Vivasvān (Sun) was (present)
• ववस्वते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ववस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन (सति-सप्तमी)

• सति: being/while (it) was
• सति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु) → सत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present participle) ‘सत्’, सप्तमी एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse evokes the Dakṣa-yajña disruption motif: Śiva obstructs a sacrifice performed with arrogance/adharma, demonstrating that yajña without Śiva-bhakti becomes fruitless.

Significance: Didactic: warns pilgrims that ritual merit depends on humility and Śiva’s grace; pride in ritual (yajña-ahaṅkāra) invites obstruction.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: A yajña-antarāya (ritual disruption) enacted by Śiva ‘by mere will’—a display of īśvaratva (lordship) over karmic-ritual causality; Vivasvat as cosmic witness.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha
• Vivasvat (Surya)

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) safeguards dharma by breaking rituals performed with arrogance and hostility; true sacrifice is inner purity and surrender, not mere external rite.

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

Daksha’s yajna represents ritual without reverence for Shiva; Linga/Saguna Shiva worship emphasizes devotion, humility, and recognizing Shiva as the indwelling Lord who alone sanctifies all rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offer worship with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrāksha in a spirit of surrender, avoiding pride and disrespect in any religious act.