Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
दक्षयज्ञ-प्रसङ्गे देवतानां आश्वासनं तथा दण्डविधानम् | Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode
शिरः कुत्रेति तेनोक्ते वीरभद्रोऽब्रवीत्प्रभुः । मया शिरो हुतं चाग्नौ तदानीमेव शंकर
śiraḥ kutreti tenokte vīrabhadro'bravītprabhuḥ | mayā śiro hutaṃ cāgnau tadānīmeva śaṃkara
جب اس نے پوچھا، “سر کہاں ہے؟” تو ربّ ویربھدر نے کہا—“اے شنکر، میں نے ابھی اسی وقت وہ سر آگ میں ہُوت کر دیا ہے۔”
Vīrabhadra
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It shows how yajña without devotion and humility becomes empty: the “head” symbolizes pride and wrong-headed ritualism, which is consumed in the fire when it opposes Śiva, the supreme Lord (Pati) who grants grace and liberation.
The episode reinforces Saguna Śiva’s role as the guardian of dharma: when worship is performed without acknowledging Śiva (often adored as the Liṅga), it leads to spiritual ruin; true ritual gains power only when offered with Śiva-bhakti and right understanding.
A takeaway is to perform worship with surrender rather than ego—recite the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as aids to humility and steady devotion, ensuring ritual is aligned with inner reverence.