Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice
and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror
वायुरुवाच । ततो विष्णुप्रधानानां सुराणाममितौजसाम् । ददर्श च महत्सत्रं चित्रध्वजपरिच्छदम्
vāyuruvāca | tato viṣṇupradhānānāṃ surāṇāmamitaujasām | dadarśa ca mahatsatraṃ citradhvajaparicchadam
Vāyu dit : Alors il vit les dieux puissants, Viṣṇu en tête, d’une splendeur incommensurable ; et il vit aussi une grande session sacrificielle, ornée d’étendards multicolores et d’insignes de fête.
Vayu
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Scene-setting for Dakṣa’s great satra: the Devas (with Viṣṇu as chief) assemble in splendor; this becomes the stage for Śiva’s later intervention through Vīrabhadra.
FAQs
It frames a sacred setting where even the most radiant devas, led by Viṣṇu, are gathered around yajña—implying that ritual power and divine splendor are still part of the cosmic order, while the Shiva Purana’s deeper thrust is to point beyond mere ritual merit toward the supreme Pati (Śiva) as the final refuge.
By highlighting a grand sacrificial scene, the text contrasts external ritual grandeur with the Shaiva emphasis that worship of Śiva—especially through the Linga as the accessible Saguna support—directs the mind toward the transcendent Lord who grants grace, purification of bonds (pāśa), and liberation.
The verse evokes yajña and sacred assembly; a Shaiva takeaway is to pair outer worship with inner japa and dhyāna—such as steady repetition of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and contemplative remembrance of Śiva as the indwelling Lord beyond all ceremonial display.