Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

वीरभद्रक्रोधशमनं देवस्तुतिश्च

Pacification of Vīrabhadra and the Gods’ Hymn

Devanagari script

दक्षस्य भगवानेव स्वयं ब्रह्मा पितामहः । तत्पापानुगुणं चक्रे जरच्छागमुखं मुखम्

Transliteration

dakṣasya bhagavāneva svayaṃ brahmā pitāmahaḥ | tatpāpānuguṇaṃ cakre jaracchāgamukhaṃ mukham

Translation

Bấy giờ chính Phạm Thiên, bậc Tổ phụ đáng tôn kính, đã tự tay tạo cho Dakṣa một khuôn mặt như dê già, đúng theo mức độ tội lỗi của ông.

Word by Word

• दक्षस्य: of Daksha
• दक्षस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अवधारण (emphasis)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कर्तृवाचक/स्वकृत्यबोधक (adverb: ‘himself’)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पितामहः: the Grandfather (creator)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्-पाप-अनुगुणम्: befitting that sin
• तत्-पाप-अनुगुणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुगुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः—“तस्य पापस्य अनुगुणम्” = “in accordance with that sin”

• चक्रे: made; fashioned
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• जरत्-छाग-मुखम्: an aged-goat-like face
• जरत्-छाग-मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जरत् (प्रातिपदिक) + छाग (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—“जरत् छागः इव मुखं यस्य/यत्” (aged-goat-like face)

• मुखम्: face
• मुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; this is within the Dakṣa-yajña aftermath where karmic consequence is visibly imposed (goat-face) to mark the offense against Śiva and Satī.

Significance: Didactic: illustrates pāśa (bondage) as karmic/adharmic consequence and the necessity of humility before Pati.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Daksha

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva principle that arrogance and wrongdoing (pāpa) bind the soul (paśu) through karmic consequence (pāśa); the altered face symbolizes the visible fruit of inner fault and the need for humility before Pati, Lord Śiva.

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

The Dakṣa episode is a cautionary frame for Saguna Śiva worship: ritual status or pride cannot replace devotion; honoring Śiva (often through Liṅga-upāsanā) requires reverence, purity of intent, and respect for Śiva’s devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is penitence and humility: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with sincere self-correction, and simple Śiva-pūjā (water/abhiṣeka) to reduce ego-driven offenses and align conduct with dharma.