Shloka 20

Sunartaka-Naṭa Avatāra and Pārvatī’s Boon-Request (Śiva as the Testing Benefactor)

Devanagari script

शृंगञ्च डमरुन्तत्र वादयामास सुध्वनिम् । महोतिं विविधाम्प्रीत्या स चकार मनोहराम्

Transliteration

śṛṃgañca ḍamaruntatra vādayāmāsa sudhvanim | mahotiṃ vividhāmprītyā sa cakāra manoharām

Translation

There He joyfully sounded the horn and the ḍamaru, producing a sweet resonance; and with loving delight He performed many splendid, captivating festive rites.

Word by Word

• शृङ्गम्: horn (instrument)
• शृङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• डमरुम्: ḍamaru drum
• डमरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डमरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• वादयामास: caused to be played / played
• वादयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वादय् (धातु) < वद् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लिट् (परिप्रास/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिजन्त (causative)

• सुध्वनिम्: sweet sound
• सुध्वनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपसर्गपूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (सु + ध्वनि)

• महोतिम्: great festival/celebration
• महोतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महोति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विविधाम्: various
• विविधाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying महोतिम्)

• प्रीत्या: with joy / out of affection
• प्रीत्या: Karana/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; भाववाचक

• स: he
• स: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• चकार: made / did
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• मनोहराम्: charming
• मनोहराम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying महोतिम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights sacred sound (nāda) as a devotional offering—sweet resonance that delights the mind and turns attention toward Shiva’s auspicious presence, supporting bhakti and inner purification.

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

It reflects Saguna worship where Shiva is approached through perceivable symbols—music, festival rites, and auspicious sounds—offered with love, just as one offers flowers, lamps, and mantra before the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-upacāra with mantra and sound: japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside rhythmic focus (listening/intoning), treating sound as an offering while maintaining devotional concentration.