Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

ऋषिभिर्यज्ञपटुभिर्यथावत्कर्मकर्तृभिः । विधिना वेददृष्टेन स्वनुष्ठितबहुक्रमम्

Transliteration

ṛṣibhiryajñapaṭubhiryathāvatkarmakartṛbhiḥ | vidhinā vedadṛṣṭena svanuṣṭhitabahukramam

Translation

เหล่าฤๅษีผู้ชำนาญในยัญพิธี—ผู้ปฏิบัติกรรมอย่างแท้จริง—ได้ประกอบพิธีโดยถูกต้องตามลำดับ ตามวิธีที่พระเวทบัญญัติไว้ พร้อมทั้งดำเนินขั้นตอนที่กำหนดไว้อย่างรอบคอบเป็นอันมาก

Word by Word

• ऋषिभिः: by sages
• ऋषिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन

• यज्ञ-पटुभिः: by those skilled in sacrifice
• यज्ञ-पटुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + पटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (यज्ञे पटवः = skilled in sacrifice)

• यथावत्: properly
• यथावत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) ‘properly, as prescribed’

• कर्म-कर्तृभिः: by performers of the rites
• कर्म-कर्तृभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्मणां कर्तारः = performers of rites)

• विधिना: by the prescribed rule
• विधिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• वेद-दृष्टेन: as enjoined by the Veda
• वेद-दृष्टेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्ट (कृदन्त; √दृश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘दृष्ट’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (वेदेन दृष्टः = seen/ordained by the Veda)

• सु-अनुष्ठित-बहु-क्रमम्: with many procedures well-performed
• सु-अनुष्ठित-बहु-क्रमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + अनु-√स्था (धातु) → अनुष्ठित (कृदन्त) + बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘अनुष्ठित’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; समासः—कर्मधारयः (बहवः क्रमाः यस्य/यत्र, तथा सु-अनुष्ठिताः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Emphasis on Veda-ordained procedure and expert ṛṣis underscores the authority of śruti-based karma; in Śaiva Siddhānta, such karma without Śiva-jñāna remains within pāśa (bondage).

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Rishis

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that spiritual efficacy arises from disciplined, scripturally-aligned practice—rites performed with right order (krama) and right method (vidhi). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such purified karma becomes a support for inner purification, making the seeker fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Linga worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly framed as most fruitful when done with proper injunctions—cleanliness, correct offerings, and prescribed sequence. This verse mirrors that principle: Saguna Shiva worship is strengthened when performed according to Vedic/Agamic order rather than casual improvisation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is adherence to vidhi and krama: perform Shiva-puja or homa with proper steps—purification (ācamanā), sankalpa, mantra-japa (often the Panchakshara), and orderly offerings. The verse points to careful, well-executed practice rather than naming a single item like rudraksha or bhasma.