Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

विष्णो त्वं कर्मणां साक्षी यज्ञानां प्रतिपालकः । धर्मस्य वेदगर्भस्य ब्रह्मणस्त्वं महाप्रभो

Transliteration

viṣṇo tvaṃ karmaṇāṃ sākṣī yajñānāṃ pratipālakaḥ | dharmasya vedagarbhasya brahmaṇastvaṃ mahāprabho

Translation

โอ้พระวิษณุ พระองค์ทรงเป็นพยานแห่งกรรมทั้งปวง และทรงอภิบาลยัญทั้งหลาย พระองค์ทรงค้ำจุนธรรมอันมีเวทเป็นครรภ์; โอ้มหาปรภู พระองค์ทรงเป็นที่พึ่งของพระพรหมด้วย

Word by Word

• विष्णो: O Viṣṇu
• विष्णो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्मणाम्: of (all) actions/rites
• कर्मणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• साक्षी: witness
• साक्षी: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-नाम (predicate): ‘त्वं साक्षी’

• यज्ञानाम्: of sacrifices
• यज्ञानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• प्रतिपालकः: protector/maintainer
• प्रतिपालकः: Vidhaya (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिपालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृवाचक-नाम (protector)

• धर्मस्य: of dharma
• धर्मस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• वेद-गर्भस्य: whose essence is the Veda
• वेद-गर्भस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: वेदः गर्भः यस्य (वेदगर्भः) ‘having the Veda as its essence’; विशेषणम् (धर्मस्य)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahman / of Brahmā (context-dependent)
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाप्रभो: O great lord
• महाप्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाप्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: महा + प्रभुः

Speaker

Sati (addressing Lord Vishnu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Dharma
• Vedas
• Yajna

FAQs

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

The verse highlights divine oversight of karma and yajña: the Lord is the inner witness (sākṣī) who ensures that Veda-rooted Dharma is upheld, reminding devotees that outer ritual must align with inner righteousness.

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

Within a Shaiva reading, it complements Linga worship by stressing that all sacred acts (karma, yajña, dharma) are ultimately validated by the Supreme Lord; Linga devotion emphasizes offering every action as worship, beyond mere ritual performance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform daily duties as karma-yajña with the awareness of the inner Witness—supporting practice such as japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and offering actions mentally at the Linga as an inner sacrifice.