Shloka 21

Devanagari script

पुरतो गीतनृत्यश्च पश्यंतं सस्मितं मुदा

Transliteration

purato gītanṛtyaśca paśyaṃtaṃ sasmitaṃ mudā

Translation

Before him there was singing and dancing; and he watched it, smiling gently, with joy.

Word by Word

• पुरतः: in front
• पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; उपसर्ग/क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb of place)

• गीत-नृत्यः: song-and-dance (performance/performer)
• गीत-नृत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गीत (प्रातिपदिक) + नृत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः: गीतं च नृत्यं च (as a combined act/performer)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction)

• पश्यन्तम्: seeing/watching
• पश्यन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः (शतृ-प्रत्ययः, present active participle) ‘पश्यत्’; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• स-स्मितम्: smiling
• स-स्मितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय-उपपद) + स्मित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; समासः उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: स्मितेन सह / स्मितयुक्तः

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through joyful, embodied worship—song and dance offered before the Lord—showing that sincere devotion pleases the Saguna form and draws divine grace.

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

Singing and dancing “in front” indicates direct, presentational worship (upacāra) before the Lord—commonly performed before the Śiva-liṅga or Shiva’s manifest form—where the devotee’s joy becomes an offering.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Kīrtana (devotional singing) and stotra-recitation as worship, performed with a steady, smiling mind; as a simple takeaway, combine mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotional singing during Mahāśivarātri or daily pūjā.