Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 31

दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode

Devanagari script

अथ दक्षः प्रसन्नात्मा शिवं लज्जासमन्वितः । तुष्टाव प्रणतो भूत्वा शंकरं लोकशंकरम्

Transliteration

atha dakṣaḥ prasannātmā śivaṃ lajjāsamanvitaḥ | tuṣṭāva praṇato bhūtvā śaṃkaraṃ lokaśaṃkaram

Translation

அப்போது தக்ஷனின் உள்ளம் அமைதியும் மகிழ்ச்சியும் பெற்றது; ஆயினும் வெட்கம் கலந்திருந்தது. அவன் வணங்கி, உலகங்களுக்கு நன்மை தரும் சங்கர சிவனைப் போற்றினான்.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: आरम्भ/अनन्तर-अव्यय (then/now)

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

• प्रसन्नात्मा: with a pleased mind
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य/प्रसन्न आत्मा)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लज्जा: shame/modesty
• लज्जा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लज्जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-तत्पुरुष-पूर्वपद (in compound); ‘with shame’ sense

• समन्वितः: endowed with
• समन्वितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying Dakṣa)

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• प्रणतः: bowed down
• प्रणतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावे/स्थित्यर्थ (bowed)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having become’

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोकशंकरम्: benefactor of the worlds
• लोकशंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य शंकरः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Śaṅkara

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights that true purification begins with remorse and surrender: even a proud ritualist like Dakṣa becomes fit for grace when he bows to Śiva, the supreme Pati, who restores auspiciousness to the worlds.

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

Dakṣa’s act of prostration and praise models Saguna-upāsanā—approaching Śiva as Śaṅkara, the compassionate lord who can be invoked through devotion, hymn, and reverent submission (the same bhāva used in Liṅga worship).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt praṇāma (prostration) and stuti (hymn-recitation) with humility; as a Shaiva takeaway, pair it with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate the same prasanna (cleared, serene) inner state.