Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 10
दधीच-शाप-हेतु-वर्णनम् / The Cause of Dadhīca’s Curse
Explaining Viṣṇu’s Role at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
तत्र त्रिवर्णतः श्रेष्ठो विप्र एव न संशयः । इति प्राह दधीचो हि शिवभक्तस्तु वेदवित्
tatra trivarṇataḥ śreṣṭho vipra eva na saṃśayaḥ | iti prāha dadhīco hi śivabhaktastu vedavit
Trong bối cảnh ấy, giữa ba varṇa, chỉ Bà-la-môn là tối thượng—không còn nghi ngờ. Đó chính là lời của đại hiền Dadhīci, bậc thông đạt Veda và là người sùng kính Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating Dadhichi’s statement within the Rudra Saṃhitā narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
FAQs
The verse links spiritual excellence with inner discipline: Dadhīci praises the vipra as “best” because of Vedic knowledge and conduct, and then highlights the higher seal of authenticity—being a Śiva-bhakta. In Shaiva Siddhanta, knowledge (jñāna) becomes fruitful when oriented to Pati (Śiva) through devotion.
By calling Dadhīci a Śiva-bhakta and veda-vit, the text frames Śiva-worship (including Liṅga worship as Saguna Śiva) as fully compatible with Vedic authority. It implies that proper worship is strengthened by scriptural understanding and right living, not opposed to it.
The practical takeaway is to combine Śiva-bhakti with Vedic purity: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), worship of the Śiva-liṅga with a sattvic, disciplined life, and study/recitation aligned with dharma.