Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 15

दक्षयज्ञदर्शनम् — The Vision of Dakṣa’s Great Sacrifice

and the Onset of Vīrabhadra’s Terror

Devanagari script

स्मयन्निव तमालोक्य दक्षं देवाश्च ऋत्विजः । अर्थगर्भमसंभ्रान्तमवोचदुचितं वचः

Transliteration

smayanniva tamālokya dakṣaṃ devāśca ṛtvijaḥ | arthagarbhamasaṃbhrāntamavocaducitaṃ vacaḥ

Translation

دکش کو دیکھ کر دیوتا اور یَجْن کے رِتْوِج گویا مسکرا رہے ہوں؛ بے اضطراب رہ کر موقع کے مطابق، باطن معنی سے بھرے ہوئے کلمات بولے۔

Word by Word

• स्मयन्: smiling
• स्मयन्: कर्ता (Karta—participial qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle/शतृ), प्रथमा एकवचन पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘smiling’ (कर्तरि)

• इव: as if
• इव: क्रियाविशेषण (Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• आलोक्य: having looked at
• आलोक्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having looked at/observed’

• दक्षम्: Dakṣa
• दक्षम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); apposition to ‘तम्’

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (Conjunction)

• ऋत्विजः: the priests
• ऋत्विजः: कर्ता (Karta—co-subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋत्विज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• अर्थगर्भम्: pregnant with meaning
• अर्थगर्भम्: कर्म (Karma—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थ + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषणम् to ‘वचः’

• असंभ्रान्तम्: unperturbed, unconfused
• असंभ्रान्तम्: कर्म (Karma—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + संभ्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक; संभ्रान्त from √भ्रम with सम्)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषणम् to ‘वचः’

• अवोचत्: said/spoke
• अवोचत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपदम् (Parasmaipada)

• उचितम्: proper, fitting
• उचितम्: कर्म (Karma—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित (प्रातिपदिक; past passive participle used adjectivally)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषणम् to ‘वचः’

• वचः: words/speech
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga context. The ‘arthagarbha’ (meaning-laden) calm speech of devas and ṛtviks functions as a didactic pause—an opening for correction (anugraha) before total ruin.

Significance: Models dharmic counsel: even amid crisis, wise speech can invite repentance; devotees learn to align ritual with humility and right understanding of Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Devas
• Ritvijas

FAQs

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

It highlights sāttvika speech—calm, appropriate, and meaning-filled—as a dharmic instrument to dissolve pride; in Shaiva thought, such clarity helps loosen pasha (bondage) created by ego.

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

The Daksha narrative commonly turns on honoring Shiva’s supreme station; the devas’ measured words implicitly point toward right reverence for Saguna Shiva (as worshipped in the Linga) rather than ritual pride.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice restrained, mantra-aligned speech (vāg-yama) and humility before worship—approaching Shiva-pūjā with steadiness (asaṁbhrama), which supports japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inner composure.