Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

देव्या संचोदितो देवो दक्षाध्वरजिघांसया । ससर्ज सहसा वीरं वीरभद्रं गणेश्वरम्

Transliteration

devyā saṃcodito devo dakṣādhvarajighāṃsayā | sasarja sahasā vīraṃ vīrabhadraṃ gaṇeśvaram

Translation

ദേവിയുടെ പ്രേരണയാൽ, ദക്ഷന്റെ യാഗം നശിപ്പിക്കാൻ ഉദ്ദേശിച്ച ദേവൻ ഉടൻ തന്നെ ഗണാധിപനായ വീരഭദ്രനെ സൃഷ്ടിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitival relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘देवी’ = of the Goddess

• संचोदितः: impelled
• संचोदितः: विशेषण (of कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्+चुद् (धातु) → संचोदित (कृदन्त, क्त/PPP)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रेरितः’ = urged/impelled

• देवः: the god (Śiva)
• देवः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• दक्षाध्वरजिघांसया: by the desire to destroy Dakṣa’s sacrifice
• दक्षाध्वरजिघांसया: करण (करण/Instrument; हेतौ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष + अध्वर + जिघांसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दक्षस्य अध्वरः = Dakṣa’s sacrifice) + ‘जिघांसा’ (desire to kill/destroy); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• ससर्ज: created/emitted
• ससर्ज: क्रिया (Verb; action of कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• सहसा: suddenly
• सहसा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• वीरम्: a hero
• वीरम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• वीरभद्रम्: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रम्: कर्म (Object; apposition to वीरम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: कर्मधारय (वीरः च सः भद्रः = the heroic Bhadra); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गणेश्वरम्: lord of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वरम्: कर्म (Object; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (गणानाम् ईश्वरः = lord of the hosts); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Vīrabhadra is manifested as Śiva’s gaṇa-commander to dismantle Dakṣa’s yajña—symbolizing the Lord’s intervention when dharma is weaponized as ego.

Significance: Teaches that the Lord’s fierce forms are not mere wrath but instruments of anugraha through saṃhāra—cutting pāśa (bondage) rooted in pride and exclusion of Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Daksha
• Virabhadra
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that when dharma becomes distorted by pride and exclusion of devotion to Śiva (Pati), the Lord acts—often through a manifest, saguna form like Vīrabhadra—to dissolve ego and restore right order. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it is Śiva’s grace correcting pāśa (bondage) rooted in ahaṅkāra.

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

Vīrabhadra is a saguna manifestation of Śiva’s will, showing that the same Supreme who is beyond attributes also assumes form to protect devotees and uphold dharma. Linga-worship teaches this unity: the formless Reality is approached through a sacred form, and ritual gains power only when joined with bhakti and reverence for Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to perform worship with humility: recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offer devotion to Śiva-linga, and cultivate inner surrender rather than pride in external rites. If practiced, applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and japa with devotion aligns the rite with Śiva-centered dharma.