Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
वृथा ते ब्रह्मचापल्याच्छप्तोयं दक्ष दुर्मते । वृथोपहसितश्चैवादुष्टो रुद्रो महा प्रभुः
vṛthā te brahmacāpalyācchaptoyaṃ dakṣa durmate | vṛthopahasitaścaivāduṣṭo rudro mahā prabhuḥ
ఓ దక్షా, దుర్మతీ! నీ బ్రాహ్మణ గర్వచాపల్యము, చంచల అహంకారము వలన ఈ శాపము వ్యర్థమే. నీవు వ్యర్థముగా పరిహాసము చేసితివి; మహాప్రభు రుద్రుడు ఎప్పుడూ దుష్టుడు కాడు.
Sati (addressing Daksha in the sacrificial assembly)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Significance: Frames the Dakṣa episode as a warning: ritual status without Śiva-bhakti becomes pāśa (bondage) and leads to aparādha; humility is prerequisite for tīrtha/yajña merit.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse condemns ritual pride and ego (brahma-cāpalyam) and affirms Rudra as aduṣṭa—stainless and beyond moral taint—teaching that true dharma is humility and devotion to Pati (Shiva), not social arrogance.
Daksha’s insult reflects rejection of Saguna Shiva’s worship; Sati asserts that the Lord is faultless, implying that honoring Shiva—often approached through the Linga in the Purana—is superior to ego-driven ritualism and social contempt.
Adopt devotion and humility in worship—chant the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner reverence, and avoid pride in external rites; let offerings (like bhasma and Rudra-japa) be grounded in bhakti rather than display.