Shloka 52

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

देवदुन्दुभयो नेदुर् ननृतुश्चाप्सरोगणाः वेदाश् च मूर्तिमन्तस्ते प्रणेमुस्तं महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

devadundubhayo nedur nanṛtuścāpsarogaṇāḥ vedāś ca mūrtimantaste praṇemustaṃ maheśvaram

Translation

Die göttlichen Kesseltrommeln dröhnten; die Scharen der Apsarās tanzten; und selbst die Veden, leibhaftig erschienen, verneigten sich vor jenem Mahēśvara. So verkündete das All selbst die Überlegenheit des Pati, des Herrn, der die Fesseln des paśu löst.

Word by Word

• देवदुन्दुभयो: divine drums

• नेदुः: resounded

• ननृतुः: danced

• च: and

• अप्सरोगणाः: groups of Apsarās

• वेदाः: the Vedas

• च: and

• मूर्तिमन्तः: embodied, personified

• ते: they

• प्रणेमुः: bowed down, paid obeisance

• तम्: to him

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara, the Great Lord (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Maheshvara (Shiva)
• Apsaras
• Vedas
• Deva-dundubhi (divine drums)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It portrays the entire cosmos—celestial music, Apsarās, and even the Vedas—as honoring Mahēśvara, implying that Linga-worship is not merely sectarian but affirmed by Vedic authority and cosmic order.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is shown as Mahēśvara, the supreme Pati: the one before whom even the Vedas take form and bow, indicating his transcendence over and immanence within revelation, and his lordship over paśu and pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights stuti and praṇāma (devotional prostration) as core Shaiva practice—an inner act of surrender that supports Pāśupata-oriented discipline by turning the paśu toward Pati.