Shloka 9

Devanagari script

नानावाहनसंयुक्ता नानावाद्यपरा यणा । पताकाभिर्विचित्राभिरप्सरोगणसंयुताः

Transliteration

nānāvāhanasaṃyuktā nānāvādyaparā yaṇā | patākābhirvicitrābhirapsarogaṇasaṃyutāḥ

Translation

They were furnished with many kinds of vehicles, delighting in many varieties of musical instruments; adorned with wonderfully diverse banners, and accompanied by hosts of Apsarās.

Word by Word

• नाना-वाहन-संयुक्ताः: joined with various vehicles
• नाना-वाहन-संयुक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त, युज् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (पूर्वपद नाना = विविध); विशेषण

• नाना-वाद्य-पराः: devoted to various musical instruments
• नाना-वाद्य-पराः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वाद्येषु पराः (devoted to instruments/music); विशेषण

• याणाः: processions/vehicles (troops)
• याणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; (पाठान्तर/रूपान्तर सम्भव: यानाः)

• पताकाभिः: with banners
• पताकाभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पताका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन

• विचित्राभिः: variegated/beautiful
• विचित्राभिः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; पताकाभिः इति विशेषण

• अप्सरो-गण-संयुताः: accompanied by groups of apsarases
• अप्सरो-गण-संयुताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुक्त (कृदन्त, युज् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Characters & Entities

• Apsaras

FAQs

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

It portrays the splendor and sacred auspiciousness (maṅgala) surrounding a divine event, where celestial order expresses devotion through music, banners, and attendants—signifying that the cosmos naturally celebrates the presence and will of Pati (Śiva) and His śakti.

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

The imagery supports Saguna devotion: devotees contemplate Śiva’s manifest majesty through sacred sights and sounds. Such descriptions train the mind toward reverent visualization (bhāvanā), making worship of the Liṅga and Śiva’s forms more intimate and emotionally grounded.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt devotional upacāras—especially gīta-vādya (sacred singing/instrumental praise) and dhyāna on Śiva’s auspicious presence—while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” letting sound and visualization steady the mind in bhakti.