Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 48

दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः

Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara

Devanagari script

अशेषामिव तामाज्ञां शिवयोश्चित्रकृत्ययोः । मूर्ध्नि कृत्वा नमस्कृत्य भद्रो गंतुं प्रचक्रमे

Transliteration

aśeṣāmiva tāmājñāṃ śivayościtrakṛtyayoḥ | mūrdhni kṛtvā namaskṛtya bhadro gaṃtuṃ pracakrame

Translation

ภัทรารับบัญชาของพระศิวะทั้งสอง ผู้มีการกระทำอัศจรรย์หาประมาณมิได้ ประหนึ่งยกไว้เหนือเศียร แล้วนอบน้อมกราบไหว้ก่อนออกเดินทาง.

Word by Word

• अशेषाम्: entire/complete
• अशेषाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative); विशेषण (qualifying आज्ञाम्)

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• ताम्: that
• ताम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (demonstrative), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative)

• आज्ञाम्: command
• आज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative)

• शिवयोः: of Śiva (and)
• शिवयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive)

• चित्रकृत्ययोः: of the wondrous deeds
• चित्रकृत्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्र + कृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्विवचन, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive); कर्मधारय (citraṃ kṛtyam)

• मूर्ध्नि: on (his) head
• मूर्ध्नि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative)

• कृत्वा: having placed/done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• नमस्कृत्य: having bowed
• नमस्कृत्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नमस् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; उपपद-समास (namas-kṛ)

• भद्रः: Bhadra (name)
• भद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative)

• गन्तुम्: to go
• गन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; गमनार्थे

• प्रचक्रमे: set out/began
• प्रचक्रमे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhadra

FAQs

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

It teaches Śaiva surrender: the devotee treats Shiva’s command as supremely sacred—“placed on the head”—and responds with humility (namaskāra) and prompt action, expressing bhakti and disciplined seva that loosens the bonds (pāśa) and aligns the soul (paśu) with Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse models Saguna devotion: honoring Shiva’s personal will through reverence and obedience. In Linga-worship, this same attitude appears as receiving scriptural injunctions (vidhi) and the guru’s guidance as Shiva’s ājñā, then carrying them out with devotion and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin any Shiva practice with namaskāra and inner resolve: receive the discipline of japa (especially “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), worship, and ethical vows as Shiva’s ājñā, then act immediately and steadily—ideally after applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and maintaining a devotional mindset.