Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15
दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode
रुद्रस्तदा ददर्शाथ वीरभद्रेण यत्कृतम् । प्रध्वंसं तं क्रतोस्तत्र देवर्षीणां विशेषतः
rudrastadā dadarśātha vīrabhadreṇa yatkṛtam | pradhvaṃsaṃ taṃ kratostatra devarṣīṇāṃ viśeṣataḥ
Pagkatapos ay nakita ni Rudra ang pagkawasak na idinulot doon ni Virabhadra—ang ganap na pagkaguho ng sakripisyong iyon, at lalo na ang pagkalito ng mga banal na tagakita na naroroon.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: Dakṣa-yajña devastation is a paradigmatic Purāṇic ‘anti-yajña’ teaching: when Pati is excluded, the sacrificial order collapses; later reconciliation restores cosmic balance.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva’s saṃhāra as corrective justice and dharma-restoration; a warning against ritual pride (ahaṅkāra).
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It shows Rudra’s oversight of cosmic justice: yajña without devotion and humility becomes empty, and ego-centered religiosity is dissolved so that true dharma—rooted in surrender to Pati (Śiva)—can be restored.
The episode contrasts external ritual power with inner devotion: Saguna Śiva, as Rudra, reveals that worship (including Linga-pūjā) must be offered with reverence and right attitude, not as a display of status or pride.
A practical takeaway is to purify intention before worship—apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of Śiva, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to dissolve ego and align ritual with devotion.