Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

अथ दक्षः पंचजन्या मया स परिसांत्वितः । सबलाश्वाभिधान्् पुत्रान् सहस्रं चाप्यजीजनत्

Transliteration

atha dakṣaḥ paṃcajanyā mayā sa parisāṃtvitaḥ | sabalāśvābhidhān् putrān sahasraṃ cāpyajījanat

Translation

随后，达叉——经由“般遮迦尼娅”而受我安慰——生下了一千个儿子，他们以“萨巴拉阿湿婆”（Sabalāśva）之名为人所知。

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भार्थक (then/now)

• दक्षः: Dakṣa
• दक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्चजन्या: by Pañcajanyā (name)
• पञ्चजन्या: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चजन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; साधन/हेतु-भावे

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa/Agent-in-passive (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परिसांत्वितः: was consoled
• परिसांत्वितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√सान्त्व् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सबलाश्वाभिधान्: named ‘Sabalāśva’
• सबलाश्वाभिधान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सबलाश्व-अभिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (to पुत्रान्); समासः—तत्पुरुष (सबलाश्व इति अभिधानं येषाम्)

• पुत्रान्: sons
• पुत्रान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• सहस्रम्: a thousand
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (numeral used substantively)

• च: and
• च: Connector (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• अजीजनत्: he begot / generated
• अजीजनत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; causative sense not marked here (simple ‘begot’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Genealogical/creation thread: Dakṣa resumes prajā-sarga by begetting the Sabalāśva sons after being consoled; not tied to a Jyotirliṅga site.

Significance: Highlights prajā-sarga as a dharmic duty within saṃsāra; in Siddhānta terms, it underscores paśu activity under pāśa (karma/niyati) until redirected by jñāna and anugraha.

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Panchajanyā
• Sabalāśva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Dakṣa’s return to worldly continuity through progeny after being consoled—showing how the jīva often seeks stability in lineage and creation, while Shaiva teaching ultimately points beyond such supports to surrender to Pati (Śiva) for liberation.

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

In the Sati narrative, Dakṣa’s emphasis on social order and progeny later contrasts with devotion to Śiva as the supreme Lord; it frames the tension between ritual-pride and true bhakti, where Saguna Śiva (worshiped as Liṅga) is approached with humility rather than ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; the practical takeaway is cultivating śānti and detachment—supported by daily Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple Liṅga-pūjā to steady the mind beyond worldly identifications.