Shloka 18

शिवरूपदर्शनम्

Menā’s Vision of Śiva’s Divine Form

Devanagari script

विश्वावसुमुखास्तत्र ह्यप्सरोगणसंयुताः । गायन्तोप्यग्रतस्तस्य परमं शाङ्करं यशः

Transliteration

viśvāvasumukhāstatra hyapsarogaṇasaṃyutāḥ | gāyantopyagratastasya paramaṃ śāṅkaraṃ yaśaḥ

Translation

There, headed by Viśvāvasu and accompanied by companies of Apsarās, they sang before him the supreme glory of Śaṅkara (Lord Śiva).

Word by Word

• विश्वावसु-मुखाः: (the Gandharvas) headed by Viśvāvasu
• विश्वावसु-मुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वावसु (प्रातिपदिक; नाम) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विश्वावसुः मुखं येषाम्/विश्वावसु-प्रमुखाः)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), अवधारण (emphasis)

• अप्सरो-गण-संयुताः: accompanied by groups of Apsarases
• अप्सरो-गण-संयुताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + संयुत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √युज् सम्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अप्सरोगणेन संयुताः)

• गायन्तः: singing
• गायन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु) ; गायन्त् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), शतृ-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Samuccaya-nipāta (समुच्चय-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (adverb of place), ‘in front’

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शाङ्करम्: of Śaṅkara (Shiva)
• शाङ्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (शङ्करसम्बन्धि)

• यशः: glory, fame
• यशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मपदत्वे द्वितीया (object)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it depicts gandharva-apsaras musical praise as part of divine celebration around Śiva.

Significance: Highlights saṅgīta-sevā (musical offering) as a bhakti-mode; devotees may offer kīrtana/nāma-saṅkīrtana to stabilize mind and invoke Śiva’s presence.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Vishvavasu
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed as stuti/kīrtana: even celestial beings proclaim Śiva’s “parama yaśas,” implying that remembrance and praise of Pati (Śiva) purifies the mind and turns it toward grace, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis for liberation.

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

By praising “Śāṅkara,” the verse reflects Saguna devotion—adoring Śiva with attributes and glory. In Shiva Purana practice, such praise naturally supports Liṅga-worship, where devotees honor Śiva’s manifest presence and sing his greatness before the deity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Kīrtana and stotra-pāṭha (devotional singing/recitation) are implied—regularly chanting Śiva’s names and hymns (including the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a focused practice of remembrance and devotion.