Shloka 19

Devanagari script

सहस्रबाहुवाद्येन स कदाचिन्महासुरः । तांडवेन हि नृत्येनातोषयत्तं महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

sahasrabāhuvādyena sa kadācinmahāsuraḥ | tāṃḍavena hi nṛtyenātoṣayattaṃ maheśvaram

Translation

Once, that mighty Asura, with the resounding music of his thousand arms, performed the Tāṇḍava dance and thereby pleased Mahādeva, the Great Lord Mahēśvara.

Word by Word

सहस्रबाहुवाद्येनby the music/instrumentation of (his) thousand arms

सःhe

कदाचित्once

महासुरःthe great demon

ताण्डवेनby the tāṇḍava (dance)

हिindeed

नृत्येनby dancing

अतोषयत्pleased

तम्him

महेश्वरम्Maheśvara (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

Shiva (Maheshvara/Mahadeva)

Asura

FAQs

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

It teaches that even formidable beings can approach Pati (Śiva) through sincere devotion; disciplined offering of art—music and sacred dance—can become bhakti that pleases the Lord, who responds to inner intent rather than mere identity.

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

The verse highlights Saguna worship—pleasing Maheśvara through expressive devotion. In Linga-upāsanā too, offerings (sound, mantra, movement, and ritual) are external forms meant to awaken reverence and surrender to Śiva as the accessible Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer devotional sound and rhythm: chant the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady breath and, if appropriate, accompany it with tāla (measured rhythm) as an inner “Tāṇḍava”—a disciplined, mindful movement of prāṇa and attention toward Śiva.