Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra
देव्युवाच । ब्रह्मादयः पिशाचांता यस्याज्ञावशवर्तिनः । स देवस्सांप्रतं तात विधिना नार्चितः किल
devyuvāca | brahmādayaḥ piśācāṃtā yasyājñāvaśavartinaḥ | sa devassāṃprataṃ tāta vidhinā nārcitaḥ kila
พระเทวีตรัสว่า “โอ้ลูกเอ๋ย ตั้งแต่พระพรหมและเหล่าเทพทั้งหลายลงไปจนถึงพวกปีศาจปิศาจะ ล้วนอยู่ใต้บัญชาของพระองค์ แต่พระผู้เป็นเจ้านั้นเองกลับดูเหมือนมิได้รับการบูชาตามพิธีอันถูกต้องในกาลนี้”
Parvati (Devi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The verse frames Śiva as the universal sovereign whose ājñā governs all beings, yet whose worship is neglected; this is a general Purāṇic critique of ritualism that omits Śiva rather than a specific sthala-origin narrative.
Significance: Establishes the doctrinal basis for Śiva-pūjā as the highest corrective act: honoring the Lord whose command sustains all hierarchies (deva to piśāca) yields restoration of dharma and right orientation (śiva-bhakti).
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose command governs all beings—while stressing that true benefit arises when devotion is aligned with proper dharmic/śaiva injunction (vidhi), not merely social custom.
By implying neglect of ‘proper worship,’ the verse points toward regulated Saguna upāsanā—classically expressed through Śiva-liṅga worship with prescribed offerings, purity, and mantra—so devotion becomes a disciplined path to grace.
The takeaway is vidhi-yukta Śiva-pūjā: worship with mantra and rule—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple liṅga-arcana with reverence—rather than casual or irregular veneration.