Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

महोत्सवस्तदा चासीद्वेदध्वनिरभून्मुने । वाद्यानि वादयामासुर्जनाश्चातुर्विधानि च

Transliteration

mahotsavastadā cāsīdvedadhvanirabhūnmune | vādyāni vādayāmāsurjanāścāturvidhāni ca

Translation

O sage, at that time there was a great festival; the sound of Vedic recitation arose. People of all four varṇas played musical instruments as well.

Word by Word

• महोत्सवः: a great festival
• महोत्सवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा+उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान् उत्सवः

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (then)

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

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेदध्वनिः: the sound of the Vedas
• वेदध्वनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद+ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: वेदानां ध्वनिः (sound of Vedic recitation)

• अभूत्: arose / occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; संबोधन (address to sage/narrator)

• वाद्यानि: musical instruments
• वाद्यानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; वाद्य-वादनयोग्य-वाद्यवस्तूनि (musical instruments)

• वादयामासुः: played (made sound)
• वादयामासुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (periphrastic perfect/आम-प्रयोगः), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative): वादयति = causes to sound/plays

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

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

• आतुर्विधानि: fourfold (of four kinds)
• आतुर्विधानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्+विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण; द्विगु-समासः: चत्वारः विधाः यस्य/येषाम् (fourfold)

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Utsava with veda-dhvani and communal participation signifies saṅgha-bhakti: collective merit and purification through śravaṇa (hearing Veda) and sevā.

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

FAQs

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

It depicts an auspicious Shaiva celebration where Vedic sound and sacred music sanctify the space, turning communal joy into worship and supporting devotion (bhakti) through śruti and nāda.

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

Veda-dhvani and festival music are classic outer supports for Saguna Shiva worship—honoring Shiva’s manifest presence through sound offerings and public celebration around His sacred rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Participate in Shiva festivals with Vedic recitation, kīrtana/maṅgala-vādya, and attentive listening (śravaṇa) as a devotional practice; accompany it with mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” where appropriate.