Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19

दक्षस्य विष्णुं प्रति शरणागतिḥ — Dakṣa’s Appeal to Viṣṇu and the Teaching on Disrespect to Śiva

Devanagari script

सैन्योद्योगमथालोक्य दक्षश्चासृङ्मुखाकुलः । दंडवत्पतितो विष्णुं सकलत्रोऽभ्यभाषत

Transliteration

sainyodyogamathālokya dakṣaścāsṛṅmukhākulaḥ | daṃḍavatpatito viṣṇuṃ sakalatro'bhyabhāṣata

Translation

Melihat persiapan bala tentera, Dakṣa menjadi gundah dan keliru, mulutnya terganggu serta berlumur darah. Lalu dia, bersama isterinya, sujud penuh (daṇḍavat) dan menyapa Dewa Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• सैन्य-उद्योगम्: the army’s mobilization/preparations
• सैन्य-उद्योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः): सैन्यस्य उद्योगः = सैन्योद्योगः

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• आलोक्य: having seen
• आलोक्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ√लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); धातु: लोक् (to see) उपसर्ग: आ-; अर्थ: ‘seeing/having seen’

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• असृक्-मुख-आकुलः: with a face disturbed/covered with blood
• असृक्-मुख-आकुलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असृक् (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समास: (असृजा आकुलं मुखं यस्य) ‘असृङ्मुखाकुलः’ (रूपेण तत्पुरुष-समासप्रायः; अर्थतः ‘रक्तेन आकुलं मुखं’); विशेषणम् (दक्षस्य)

• दण्डवत्: like a staff (fully prostrate)
• दण्डवत्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तुल्योपमा-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (like a staff; prostrate)

• पतितः: having fallen/prostrated
• पतितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातु: √पत् (to fall)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• स-कलत्रः: together with (his) wife
• स-कलत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/अव्ययार्थ) + कलत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: सह-तत्पुरुष (सकलत्रः = कलत्रेण सह); विशेषणम् (दक्षस्य)

• अभ्यभाषत: spoke/said
• अभ्यभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि√भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: √भाष् (to speak) उपसर्ग: अभि-

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights how pride collapses when consequences arise: Dakṣa, shaken by impending danger, turns to surrender (daṇḍavat) and seeks refuge. In a Shaiva reading, this foreshadows that worldly power cannot stand against the higher order of Śiva’s will and dharma.

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

Though Dakṣa approaches Viṣṇu here, the episode ultimately points to the supremacy of the divine order upheld by Śiva. Devotion that is merely fear-driven and not rooted in reverence for Śiva (often symbolized by Linga-worship) remains unstable and reactive.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed through daṇḍavat praṇāma and humble prayer; in Shaiva practice this is commonly paired with remembrance of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind when fear and agitation arise.