Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

उपमन्युतपः-निवारणप्रसङ्गः / Śiva restrains Upamanyu’s tapas (Śiva disguised as Indra)

Devanagari script

दिवि दुंदुभयो नेदुः पुष्पवृष्टिः पपात च । विष्णुब्रह्मेन्द्रप्रमुखैर्देवैश्छन्ना दिशो दश

Transliteration

divi duṃdubhayo neduḥ puṣpavṛṣṭiḥ papāta ca | viṣṇubrahmendrapramukhairdevaiśchannā diśo daśa

Translation

Dans les cieux retentirent les tambours célestes, et une pluie de fleurs tomba. Les dix directions furent remplies et comme voilées par les dieux—conduits par Viṣṇu, Brahmā et Indra—assemblés en une célébration pleine de révérence.

Word by Word

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण (Locative of place)

• दुंदुभयो: kettledrums
• दुंदुभयो: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• नेदुः: resounded
• नेदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्प-वृष्टिः: a shower of flowers
• पुष्प-वृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुष्पाणां वृष्टिः)

• पपात: fell
• पपात: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• विष्णु-ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-प्रमुखैः: by the gods headed by Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Indra
• विष्णु-ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-प्रमुखैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; समासः—बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (विष्णु-ब्रह्म-इन्द्र-प्रमुखाः येषां ते)

• देवैः: by the gods
• देवैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण

• छन्नाः: covered
• छन्नाः: Kriya (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: छद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणरूपेण

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्म

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक विशेषण (numeral adjective), द्वितीया, बहुवचनानुगामी (agreeing with दिशः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: deva-samāgama (celestial celebration with drums and flower-rain)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Indra
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse depicts auspicious divine omens—drums in heaven and a rain of flowers—signifying that the cosmos itself rejoices when the Supreme Pati (Shiva) is honored; even the devas affirm His supremacy and the right order (dharma) being restored.

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

Flower-rain and divine music mirror the devotional upacāras offered to Saguna Shiva in Linga worship—puṣpa-arcana and maṅgala-vādyas—showing that external ritual celebration reflects an inner recognition of Shiva as the Lord who grants grace and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It supports puṣpāñjali (offering flowers) and maṅgala-ācāra in Shiva-pūjā; as a meditative takeaway, one may offer flowers mentally while repeating the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating reverence as the devas do.