Shloka 29

पार्वतीजन्मवर्णनम् / Description of Pārvatī’s Birth

Devanagari script

दुन्दुभीन्वादयामासुर्नभस्यागत्य निर्जराः । पुष्पवृष्टिरभूत्तत्र जगुर्गन्धर्वसत्तमाः

Transliteration

dundubhīnvādayāmāsurnabhasyāgatya nirjarāḥ | puṣpavṛṣṭirabhūttatra jagurgandharvasattamāḥ

Translation

Descending from the sky, the deathless devas sounded the dundubhi kettledrums; there a rain of flowers fell, and the foremost Gandharvas sang in joyous celebration.

Word by Word

• dundubhīn: kettledrums
• dundubhīn: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dundubhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vādayāmāsuḥ: played (caused to sound)
• vādayāmāsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (धातु) [causative: vādaya-]
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect/Past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Plural (बहुवचन); णिच्-प्रयोग (causative) 'made (them) sound/played'

• nabhasyā: from the sky
• nabhasyā: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); Vedic/poetic form for 'nabhasaḥ'

• āgatya: having come
• āgatya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having come'

• nirjarāḥ: gods (immortals)
• nirjarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• puṣpa-vṛṣṭiḥ: a shower of flowers
• puṣpa-vṛṣṭiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: 'puṣpāṇāṃ vṛṣṭiḥ'

• abhūt: occurred / was
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्, Imperfect/Past), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśādhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• jaguḥ: sang
• jaguḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gai (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ/Perfect-like narrative (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Plural (बहुवचन)

• gandharva-sattamāḥ: the best Gandharvas
• gandharva-sattamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gandharva (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); karmadhāraya: 'excellent gandharvas'

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Gandharvas

FAQs

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

The flower-rain and celestial music signify divine approval and auspicious confirmation that a sacred Shaiva event is unfolding; in Shaiva devotion, such omens reflect the harmony of the cosmos when Pati (Śiva) and His śakti are honored.

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

Though the verse describes celebration, its devotional atmosphere mirrors Saguna-Śiva worship—offering flowers, music, and praise—common in Linga-pūjā where the devotee externalizes reverence and invites inner grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is upacāra-bhakti: offer flowers, sing stotras or kīrtana, and accompany worship with rhythmic instruments while mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align outer celebration with inner japa.