Shloka 53

Devanagari script

विरुद्धवाहनाः केचिच्छृंगनादविवादिनः । डमरोर्वादिनः केचित्केचिद्गोमुखवादिनः

Transliteration

viruddhavāhanāḥ kecicchṛṃganādavivādinaḥ | ḍamarorvādinaḥ kecitkecidgomukhavādinaḥ

Translation

Some bore strange and contrary mounts; some were quarrelsome, disputing amid blaring horn-calls. Some kept sounding the ḍamaru drum, and others played the gomukha horn—each raising a tumult in the retinue gathered around the Lord.

Word by Word

• विरुद्ध-वाहनाः: having discordant/odd mounts
• विरुद्ध-वाहनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरुद्ध (√रुध् क्त, कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विरुद्धं वाहनं येषाम्/विरुद्धवाहनाः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (अनिश्चित: ‘some’)

• शृङ्ग-नाद-विवादिनः: arguing with horn-blasts
• शृङ्ग-नाद-विवादिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + विवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शृङ्गनादेन विवादिनः = ‘disputing with horn-sounds’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• डमरु-उर्वादिनः: playing the ḍamaru (drum)
• डमरु-उर्वादिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: डमरु (प्रातिपदिक) + उर्वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (डमरुणा उर्वादिनः/उरुवादिनः; वादिन् ‘playing/sounding’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• केचित्: some
• केचित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + चित् (अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• गोमुख-वादिनः: playing the gomukha (horn/instrument)
• गोमुख-वादिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोमुख (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गोमुखेण वादिनः = ‘playing the gomukha instrument’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse portrays the diverse, awe-inspiring energies within Shiva’s retinue, suggesting that all varieties of sound and temperament are ultimately gathered and harmonized under Pati (Shiva), the Lord who transcends and governs the play of the guṇas.

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

These instruments and loud calls indicate Saguna Shiva’s manifest presence—His attendants celebrate and announce the Lord’s coming. In Linga-worship too, devotees use sound (mantra, bells, drums) to focus the mind and offer reverent attention to Shiva’s accessible, gracious form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to upāsanā through nāda and mantra—especially japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady attention, using temple sounds (bell/drum) as supports while keeping inner composure rather than outer agitation.