Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6
उत्पातवर्णनम् / Description of Portents at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
नक्षत्राणि पतंति स्म विद्युदग्निप्रभाणि च । नक्षत्राणामभूद्वक्रा गतिश्चाधोमुखी तदा
nakṣatrāṇi pataṃti sma vidyudagniprabhāṇi ca | nakṣatrāṇāmabhūdvakrā gatiścādhomukhī tadā
അപ്പോൾ നക്ഷത്രങ്ങൾ വീഴുന്നതുപോലെ തോന്നി, മിന്നലിന്റെയും അഗ്നിപ്രഭയുടെയും പോലെ ജ്വലിച്ച്; നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളുടെ ഗതി വളഞ്ഞു, അവരുടെ ചലനം താഴോട്ടായി മാറി।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Rudra
Cosmic Event: Asterisms appear to fall; nakṣatra-gati becomes vakra and adhomukhī—an omen of inverted dharma and destabilized ṛta
FAQs
The verse portrays cosmic omens showing that when dharma is wounded and devotion is dishonored, even the apparent stability of the universe appears to shake—signaling the gravity of the offense against Śiva and His devotee.
Such portents drive the devotee toward refuge in Saguna Śiva—worship of the Liṅga as the stabilizing presence (Pati) who restores order when the world’s signs turn adverse.
In times of fear or inauspicious signs, take shelter in japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady the mind with Śiva-dhyāna, seeking inner composure rather than panic.