देव-गण-समरः
Devas and Śiva’s Gaṇas Engage in Battle
त्वमिंद्र बालिशो भूत्वा लोकपालैः सदाद्य वै । आगतो दक्ष यज्ञं हि किं करिष्यसि विक्रमम्
tvamiṃdra bāliśo bhūtvā lokapālaiḥ sadādya vai | āgato dakṣa yajñaṃ hi kiṃ kariṣyasi vikramam
ఓ ఇంద్రా, బాలిషుడై మోహగ్రస్తుడై నీవు ఈ రోజు లోకపాలులతో కలిసి దక్ష యజ్ఞానికి వచ్చావు. ఇక్కడ నీవు ఏ పరాక్రమం చేయగలవు?
Lord Shiva (addressing Indra in the context of Daksha’s Yajna)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Rudra
The verse exposes the Devas’ pride as spiritual immaturity: worldly authority (Lokapālatva) cannot stand before Pati (Shiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, ego and power are forms of pāśa (bondage); true strength is humility and alignment with Shiva’s will.
Daksha’s ritualism lacks reverence for Shiva; the verse underscores that sacrifice without devotion is hollow. Linga/Saguna Shiva worship centers on honoring Shiva as the inner Lord of yajña—devotion (bhakti) and surrender make ritual spiritually fruitful.
A practical takeaway is to perform puja and japa without pride—especially Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a repentant, surrendered mind—so that worship becomes purification rather than self-display.