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Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 48

दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse

Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

नाभून्नाशाय तद्वज्रं दधीचस्य महात्मनः । प्रभावात्परमेशस्य धातृपुत्रो विसिस्मिये

nābhūnnāśāya tadvajraṃ dadhīcasya mahātmanaḥ | prabhāvātparameśasya dhātṛputro visismiye

مہاتما ددھیچی سے پیدا ہونے والا وہ وجر تباہی کا سبب نہ بنا—یہ پرمیشور شِو کے غلبۂ قدرت سے تھا۔ یہ دیکھ کر دھاتṛ کا بیٹا حیران رہ گیا۔

not
:
निषेध (Negation)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation particle)
अभूत्was/became
अभूत्:
क्रिया (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Root√bhū (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
नाशायfor destruction
नाशाय:
सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन (Dative purpose)
TypeNoun
Rootnāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन — प्रयोजन (dative of purpose)
तत्that
तत्:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन — vajram qualifies
वज्रम्thunderbolt
वज्रम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootvajra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
दधीचस्यof Dadhīca
दधीचस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootdadhīca (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन
महात्मनःof the great-souled (sage)
महात्मनः:
विशेषण (Qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootmahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन — agreeing with दधीचस्य
प्रभावात्due to the power
प्रभावात्:
अपादान/हेतु (Cause/Ablative)
TypeNoun
Rootprabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन — हेतौ (ablative of cause)
परमेशस्यof the Supreme Lord
परमेशस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootparameśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन
धातृ-पुत्रःDhātṛ’s son (Brahmā’s son)
धातृ-पुत्रः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootdhātṛ + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी तत्पुरुष (धातुः पुत्रः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
विसिस्मियेmarvelled/was astonished
विसिस्मिये:
क्रिया (Predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootvi-√smi (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद — विसिस्मिये

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages)

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a doctrinal exemplum: even the vajra (symbol of irresistible force) fails where Śiva’s prabhāva (sovereign power) withholds destruction.

Significance: Emphasizes śaraṇāgati to Śiva as the ultimate refuge beyond worldly/vedic weapons and merits; cultivates niṣṭhā (steadfast devotion) and humility before Parameśvara.

S
Shiva
D
Dadhichi
D
Dhatr (Brahma/Creator)

FAQs

It teaches that all worldly power—even a famed vajra—cannot operate independently of Parameśvara. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Śiva) is the ultimate governor of karma and outcomes; surrender to Him transforms fear of destruction into awe and devotion.

The verse highlights Śiva’s active, saguna lordship (prabhāva) within the cosmos—protecting, restraining, and directing events. Linga-worship centers on this Parameśvara who is both transcendent and immanent, the source through whom all powers become effective or ineffective.

A practical takeaway is to cultivate śaraṇāgati (refuge) through japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to offer simple Linga-pūjā with humility, remembering that divine grace, not force, determines the fruit of actions.