Shloka 13

दाक्षयज्ञप्रस्थान-प्रश्नः

Satī Inquires about the Departure for Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

ददर्श तं सभामध्ये संस्थितं बहुभिर्गणैः । नंद्यादिभिर्महावीरैः प्रवरैर्यूथयूथपै

Transliteration

dadarśa taṃ sabhāmadhye saṃsthitaṃ bahubhirgaṇaiḥ | naṃdyādibhirmahāvīraiḥ pravarairyūthayūthapai

Translation

सा तं सभामध्ये संस्थितं ददर्श, बहुभिर्गणैः परिवृतं नन्द्यादिभिर्महावीरैः प्रवरैर्यूथयूथपैः।

Word by Word

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• सभामध्ये: in the middle of the assembly
• सभामध्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular); समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सभायाः मध्ये)

• संस्थितम्: standing/placed
• संस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); ‘तम्’ इति विशेषण

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); ‘गणैः’ इति विशेषण

• गणैः: by groups/attendants
• गणैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural)

• नन्दि-आदिभिः: by Nandi and others
• नन्दि-आदिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); समासः तत्पुरुषः (नन्दिः आदिः येषां ते)

• महा-वीरैः: by great heroes
• महा-वीरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); कर्मधारयः (महान्तः वीराः)

• प्रवरैः: by the foremost
• प्रवरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); विशेषण (to the same instrumental plural group)

• यूथ-यूथपैः: by troops and troop-leaders
• यूथ-यूथपैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यूथ + यूथप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (plural); द्वन्द्वः (यूथाः च यूथपाः च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Sati-khanda account to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva enthroned amid gaṇas evokes the ‘Īśvara-sabhā’ motif found in many sthala narratives where the Lord presides as cosmic king; here it sets the stage for counsel before the Dakṣa-yajña crisis.

Significance: Darśana of Śiva ‘in sabhā’ symbolizes the devotee’s aspiration to enter Śiva’s presence and community (gaṇa-sāyujya as a devotional ideal).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Pati (the Lord) revealed in a saguna, approachable majesty—enthroned among His gaṇas—showing that divine grace is mediated through His sacred community and order, inspiring reverent devotion and surrender.

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

Though the Liṅga is the central icon of Śiva’s worship, this scene emphasizes the same Lord in manifest (saguna) form, attended by Nandī and gaṇas; devotees honor the Liṅga while remembering Śiva’s living presence, His attendants, and His protective sovereignty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with Śiva-dhyāna: mentally visualize Śiva in His sabhā with Nandī, then chant the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility—optionally offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and respectful salutation toward Nandī as Śiva’s foremost attendant.