Shloka 28

भोजन-आह्वान-प्रकरणम् — The Episode of Invitation and the Divine Feast

Devanagari script

अथ प्रभातकाले च धृत्युत्साहपरायणाः । नानाप्रकारवाद्यानि वादयाञ्चक्रिरे जनाः

Transliteration

atha prabhātakāle ca dhṛtyutsāhaparāyaṇāḥ | nānāprakāravādyāni vādayāñcakrire janāḥ

Translation

Then, at daybreak, the people—steadfast and filled with zeal—began to play instruments of many kinds.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (sequence particle)

• प्रभातकाले: in the morning time
• प्रभातकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभात + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रभाते कालः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• धृति-उत्साह-परायणाः: devoted to resolve and enthusiasm
• धृति-उत्साह-परायणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृति + उत्साह + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समाहार/बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (धृतौ उत्साहे च परायणाः = steadfast in resolve and enthusiasm)

• नाना: various
• नाना: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाना (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषणार्थे (indeclinable used adjectivally: various)

• प्रकारवाद्यानि: instruments of various kinds
• प्रकारवाद्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकार + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रकाराणां वाद्यानि)

• वादयाम्: having caused to be played / playing
• वादयाम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वादय (णिच्-प्रातिपदिक; √वद्)
• Form: णिच् (Causative) धातोः क्त्वान्त-पूर्वरूप (Gerund base) in sandhi with following verb: वादयित्वा/वादयाम् (before चक्रिरे)

• चक्रिरे: did/performed
• चक्रिरे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Daybreak music functions as maṅgala-vādya announcing auspicious proceedings; not tied to a Jyotirliṅga locale.

Significance: Maṅgala-vādya at dawn is a devotional marker of temple culture—supporting collective bhakti and readiness for darśana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

FAQs

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

It portrays dawn as an auspicious threshold for dharma and worship, where collective steadiness (dhṛti) and devotional zeal (utsāha) naturally express themselves as sacred celebration—supporting a bhakti-oriented Shaiva mood.

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

Public music and festivity commonly accompany saguna forms of devotion—processions, temple worship, and communal praise—creating an outer atmosphere that steadies the mind and turns attention toward Shiva’s manifest grace in ritual settings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dawn-time worship: begin the day with auspicious sounds (bell, conch, or devotional music), then proceed to Shiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align enthusiasm with inner recollection.