Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

अवादयंत ते सर्वे नानावाद्यानसंख्यकान् । पटहादिगणास्तांस्तान् विकरालान्महारवान्

Transliteration

avādayaṃta te sarve nānāvādyānasaṃkhyakān | paṭahādigaṇāstāṃstān vikarālānmahāravān

Translation

Da begannen sie alle, unzählige Arten von Musikinstrumenten zu spielen—große Scharen von Kesseltrommeln wie paṭaha und dergleichen—und jedes ließ ein furchterregendes, donnerndes Dröhnen erschallen.

Word by Word

• avādayan: they caused to sound / played
• avādayan: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु) caus. ā- (आवदयति)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (plural); णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc), प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन (plural); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective) of 'te'

• nānā: various
• nānā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverbial/qualifier: 'various')

• vādyān: musical instruments
• vādyān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut), द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• asaṃkhyakān: countless
• asaṃkhyakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-saṃkhyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negation: 'not countable'); विशेषण of 'vādyān'

• paṭaha-ādi-gaṇāḥ: groups of paṭaha-drums and the like
• paṭaha-ādi-gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṭaha (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थ: 'group consisting of paṭahas etc.'

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• tān: those (each and every)
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; पुनरुक्ति (emphatic repetition)

• vikarālān: terrifying
• vikarālān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikarāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of 'tān' (or implied 'gaṇān')

• mahā-ravān: loud-roaring
• mahā-ravān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + rava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'great-roaring'; विशेषण of 'tān'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights sacred sound (nāda) as an outer sign of inner devotion—Shiva’s attendants create awe-inspiring music that sanctifies the atmosphere and supports bhakti and reverent absorption in the Lord.

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

In Saguna worship, auspicious sound—drums, songs, and recitation—functions as upacāra (devotional offering). Such celebratory music accompanies Shiva’s presence and honors him as the manifest Lord who receives worship through tangible acts.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use sacred sound in practice: chant the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady rhythm (japa), optionally with temple-style offerings (dīpa, naivedya), letting sound and attention converge into one-pointed devotion.