Shloka 45

Devanagari script

भेरीमृदंगशंखौघैर्निस्वानैर्वीरहर्षणैः । गजाश्वरथशब्दैश्च नादिता भूर्व्यकंपत

Transliteration

bherīmṛdaṃgaśaṃkhaughairnisvānairvīraharṣaṇaiḥ | gajāśvarathaśabdaiśca nāditā bhūrvyakaṃpata

Translation

Resounding with the hero-stirring blare of bherīs, mṛdaṅgas, and surging conches—and with the tumult of elephants, horses, and chariots—the very earth reverberated and trembled.

Word by Word

• bherī-mṛdaṅga-śaṅkha-oghaiḥ: by the torrents/hosts of drums, mṛdaṅgas and conches
• bherī-mṛdaṅga-śaṅkha-oghaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bherī (प्रातिपदिक) + mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + ogha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ‘भेरी-मृदङ्ग-शङ्खानाम् ओघः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/तृतीया), बहुवचन (plural)

• nisvānaiḥ: by the loud sounds
• nisvānaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nisvāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• vīra-harṣaṇaiḥ: that gladden heroes
• vīra-harṣaṇaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक) + harṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ‘वीराणां हर्षणम्’ (genitive relation); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण of ‘nisvānaiḥ’

• gaja-aśva-ratha-śabdaiḥ: by the sounds of elephants, horses, and chariots
• gaja-aśva-ratha-śabdaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + ratha (प्रातिपदिक) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: ‘गजाश्वरथानां शब्दाः’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक निपात)

• nāditā: was made to resound
• nāditā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: भूतकर्मणि क्त (PPP, past passive participle) ‘नादित’ = ‘made to resound’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘bhūḥ’

• bhūḥ: the earth
• bhūḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• vyakaṃpata: trembled
• vyakaṃpata: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kamp (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; वि+अकम्पत = ‘trembled’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The martial soundscape (bherī, mṛdaṅga, śaṅkha) sacralizes the battlefield as a cosmic theatre under Śiva’s sovereignty; earth’s trembling suggests dhārmic upheaval preceding restoration.

Significance: Recitation evokes vīra-bhāva and steadiness; the ‘earth trembling’ motif is read as reminder of impermanence and Śiva’s ultimate control over bhū-tattva.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Bhū-kampana imagery (earth trembling) as an epic-cosmic sign accompanying divine conflict.

FAQs

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

The verse uses the thunder of war-instruments and armies to show how worldly agitation can shake the outer world, while Shaiva Siddhanta points the seeker to take refuge in Pati (Shiva), the unmoving Lord, as the inner ground beyond all vibration.

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

In the midst of loud, changing battle-scenes (saguṇa experience), the Linga signifies Shiva as the stable axis of consciousness. Remembering Shiva in form (Saguna) through Linga-worship trains the mind to rest in His changeless presence even when the world ‘trembles’.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to remain steady amid disturbance; optionally support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of Shiva-centered composure.