Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

सुदर्भऋतुसंस्तीर्णं सुसमिद्धहुताशनम् । कांचनैर्यज्ञभांडैश्च भ्राजिष्णुभिरलंकृतम्

Transliteration

sudarbhaṛtusaṃstīrṇaṃ susamiddhahutāśanam | kāṃcanairyajñabhāṃḍaiśca bhrājiṣṇubhiralaṃkṛtam

Translation

L’aire du sacrifice était soigneusement tapissée d’excellente herbe darbha, et le feu sacré flamboyait, attisé selon la juste règle. Elle était ornée de vases d’or du yajña, étincelants, rayonnant de splendeur rituelle.

Word by Word

• सु-दर्भ-ऋतु-संस्तीर्णम्: well-strewn with darbha grass in due season
• सु-दर्भ-ऋतु-संस्तीर्णम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + दर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक) + सं-स्तॄ (धातु) → संस्तीर्ण (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त), संस्तीर्णम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (दर्भऋतु-सम्बन्धेन संस्तीर्णम्), उपपदपूर्वक ‘सु-’

• सु-समिद्ध-हुताशनम्: having a well-kindled fire
• सु-समिद्ध-हुताशनम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + सम्-इध् (धातु) → समिद्ध (कृदन्त) + हुताशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘समिद्ध’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; समासः—कर्मधारयः (समिद्धः हुताशनः = well-kindled fire), ‘सु-’ उपसर्गार्थक अव्ययपूर्वपद

• काञ्चनैः: with golden
• काञ्चनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे विशेषणरूपेण), तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• यज्ञ-भाण्डैः: with sacrificial vessels
• यज्ञ-भाण्डैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + भाण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञस्य भाण्डानि)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• भ्राजिष्णुभिः: with shining (ones)
• भ्राजिष्णुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्राजिष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; विशेषण (shining)

• अलंकृतम्: adorned
• अलंकृतम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलम्-√कृ (धातु) → अलंकृत (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Detailed śrauta-yajña description (darbha, blazing Agni, golden vessels) emphasizes karmakāṇḍa magnificence that, in the Dakṣa narrative, becomes a locus of bondage when divorced from Śiva-bhakti.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Agni

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that sacred action begins with purity and right order: a well-prepared yajña-space and properly kindled fire symbolize disciplined devotion where the mind and senses are arranged toward Pati (Shiva) through reverent practice.

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

Though the verse describes yajña implements, it reflects saguna upāsanā—approaching Shiva through consecrated forms, materials, and procedures. In Shaiva practice, such external sanctity supports focused mantra and offering, leading the devotee toward Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain a clean, consecrated worship area, use proper ritual supports (like darbha), and keep the sacred fire or lamp steady—then perform japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with attentive offerings and inner recollection.