Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

युद्धप्रारम्भवर्णनम् — Description of the Commencement of Battle

Devanagari script

तदा दुंदुभयो नेदुर्भेरीतूर्याण्यनेकशः । वीणावेणुमृदंगानि तथा गंधर्वनिस्स्वनाः

Transliteration

tadā duṃdubhayo nedurbherītūryāṇyanekaśaḥ | vīṇāveṇumṛdaṃgāni tathā gaṃdharvanissvanāḥ

Translation

Alors les duṃdubhi retentirent, et l’on fit résonner maintes fois les bherī et de nombreux instruments tūrīya. Les vīṇā, les flûtes et les mṛdaṅga sonnèrent aussi, avec les échos mélodieux des Gandharvas.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• दुंदुभयो: kettle-drums
• दुंदुभयो: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुंदुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन (plural)

• नेदुः: sounded/roared
• नेदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• भेरीतूर्याणि: kettle-drums and trumpets/instruments
• भेरीतूर्याणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भेरी-तूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (भेर्यश्च तूर्याणि च)

• अनेकशः: many times/abundantly
• अनेकशः: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb) = ‘in many ways/abundantly’

• वीणावेणुमृदंगानि: lutes, flutes, and mṛdaṅga-drums
• वीणावेणुमृदंगानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीणा-वेणु-मृदङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (वीणाश्च वेणवश्च मृदङ्गाश्च)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/तुल्यतासूचक अव्यय (also/likewise)

• गंधर्वनिस्स्वनाः: the sounds of the Gandharvas
• गंधर्वनिस्स्वनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व-निस्स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गन्धर्वाणां निस्स्वनाः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights auspicious nāda (sacred sound) arising during a divine event—music and drums symbolize the cosmos rejoicing when dharma is strengthened and devotion to Shiva is affirmed.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, sound (vādyas, stotra, kīrtana) is a direct form of upacāra (devotional offering). The celebratory instruments mirror temple practice where music sanctifies the space around the Linga and elevates the mind toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate devotion through sacred sound—chant the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady rhythm, or accompany japa with simple devotional singing to stabilize attention and awaken bhakti.