Shloka 28

घनागमवर्णनम् / Description of the Monsoon’s Onset

Satī’s Address to Śiva

Devanagari script

स्वेच्छाविहारैस्तव कौतुकानि सुवर्णपक्षानिलवृन्दवृन्दैः । शब्दोत्तरंगैर्मधुरस्वनैस्तैर्मुदोपगेयानि गिरौ हिमोत्थे

Transliteration

svecchāvihāraistava kautukāni suvarṇapakṣānilavṛndavṛndaiḥ | śabdottaraṃgairmadhurasvanaistairmudopageyāni girau himotthe

Translation

Auf dem Berge Himavat werden deine spielerischen Wonnen—entsprungen deinem freien Wandeln nach eigenem Willen—freudig besungen von Scharen goldflügeliger Vögel und von Heeren der Lüfte, deren süßer Klang wie Wellen des Schalls auf- und niedersteigt.

Word by Word

• sva-icchā-vihāraiḥ: by free wanderings
• sva-icchā-vihāraiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + icchā + vihāra (स्व + इच्छा + विहार प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तत्पुरुष: ‘wanderings according to one’s own will’

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (युष्मद् सर्वनाम)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• kautukāni: sports, playful acts
• kautukāni: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kautuka (कौतुक प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• suvarṇa-pakṣa-anila-vṛnda-vṛndaiḥ: by many groups of golden-winged winds
• suvarṇa-pakṣa-anila-vṛnda-vṛndaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suvarṇa + pakṣa + anila + vṛnda + vṛnda (सुवर्ण + पक्ष + अनिल + वृन्द + वृन्द प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); multi-member determinative compound: ‘by groups of winds with golden wings’ (pakṣa as ‘wings’ qualifying anila; vṛnda-vṛnda = ‘many groups’)

• śabda-uttara-aṅgaiḥ: with sound as their prominent feature
• śabda-uttara-aṅgaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda + uttara + aṅga (शब्द + उत्तर + अङ्ग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); used adjectivally with madhurasvanaiḥ; compound sense: ‘having upper parts consisting of sound / with sound as the upper feature’ (determinative)

• madhura-svanaiḥ: by sweet sounds
• madhura-svanaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhura + svana (मधुर + स्वन प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘sweet’ + ‘sound’

• taiḥ: by those
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); refers to the preceding instrumental groups

• mudā: with joy
• mudā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mud (मुद्/मुदा प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial instrumental ‘with joy’

• upageyāni: to be sung/celebrated
• upageyāni: Kriyā (क्रिया-विशेष्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-gai (उप+गै/गाय् धातु)
• Form: Gerundive/Future passive participle (तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्यय; here -य), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with kautukāni: ‘to be sung/celebrated’

• girau: on the mountain
• girau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giri (गिरि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hima-utthe: snow-born, snowy
• hima-utthe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hima + uttha (हिम + उत्थ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with girau; तत्पुरुष: ‘arisen from snow’ → ‘snowy’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satī episode to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Himavat is praised as the delight-filled stage for Śiva’s līlā; functions as a ‘kṣetra-glorification’ without being a Jyotirliṅga account.

Significance: Contemplation of Himālaya/Kailāsa as archetypal Śiva-sthāna; supports dhyāna on the Lord’s abode and the serenity of tapas-bhūmi.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Himalaya (Himavat)

FAQs

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

It presents nature as an instrument of sacred praise: the winds and birds become spontaneous “kīrtana,” showing that the Goddess’s presence sanctifies the environment and turns the world into a hymn of devotion.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Śiva (Pati) is worshipped with Śakti as His inseparable power; this verse highlights Saguna devotion where creation itself participates in adoration—supporting temple-style worship where sound (nāda), song, and beauty are offerings to the Divine Couple.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāda-upāsanā and bhakti: recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” softly with attentive listening to natural sound (wind/birdsong) as a reminder that all sound can be offered as praise to Śiva-Śakti.