Shloka 18

दक्षयज्ञे मुनिदेवसमागमः / The Gathering of Sages and Gods at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

अध्वर्यवोथ होतारस्तावन्तो नारदादयः । सप्तर्षयस्समा गाथाः कुर्वंति स्म पृथक्पृथक्

Transliteration

adhvaryavotha hotārastāvanto nāradādayaḥ | saptarṣayassamā gāthāḥ kurvaṃti sma pṛthakpṛthak

Translation

Then the Adhvaryu priests and the Hotṛ priests—along with Nārada and others—together with the Seven Ṛṣis, each in his own way, began composing and reciting harmonious hymns of praise in that sacred assembly.

Word by Word

• अध्वर्यवः: Adhvaryu priests
• अध्वर्यवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वर्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural

• अथ: and/then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रमसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — discourse particle

• होतारः: Hotṛ priests
• होतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: होतृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural

• तावन्तः: that many
• तावन्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural; ‘so many/as many’ (refers back to a number)

• नारद-आदयः: Nārada and others
• नारद-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural; तत्पुरुष: ‘नारदः आदिः येषाम्’ = ‘Nārada and others’

• सप्त-ऋषयः: the seven sages
• सप्त-ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — masculine nominative plural; द्विगु: ‘सप्त ऋषयः’

• समाः: equal/similar
• समाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — feminine nominative plural; विशेषण of ‘गाथाः’

• गाथाः: songs/verses
• गाथाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गाथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन — feminine nominative plural

• कुर्वन्ति: compose/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन — present, active, 3rd person plural

• स्म: indeed/then (marker)
• स्म: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — स्म-निपात (past/continuative marker with present)

• पृथक्-पृथक्: separately, each by himself
• पृथक्-पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — adverb; reduplicated for distributive sense

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Saptarishis

FAQs

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

It highlights collective yet individualized devotion: realized sages and Vedic priests praise the Supreme Pati (Lord Shiva) through sacred speech, showing that harmony in worship can arise even when each devotee offers prayer in a distinct way.

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

The verse depicts formal and devotional praise offered in an assembly context typical of Saguna worship—where Shiva is approached through name, form, hymn, and rite—often culminating in offerings to the Linga as the accessible emblem of the transcendent Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular stotra-japa and Vedic-style recitation with focused mind (bhāva) is implied—devotees may adopt daily hymn recitation to Shiva and pair it with mantra practice such as the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) for steadiness and inner purification.