Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

महोत्सवस्तदा चासीद्वेदध्वनिरभून्मुने । वाद्यानि वादयामासुर्जनाश्चतुर्विधानि च

Transliteration

mahotsavastadā cāsīdvedadhvanirabhūnmune | vādyāni vādayāmāsurjanāścaturvidhāni ca

Translation

おお牟尼よ、その時、大いなる祭典（マホーツァヴァ）が起こり、ヴェーダ誦唱の響きが虚空に満ちた。四つのヴァルナの人々は楽器を奏で、祝祭は余すところなく荘厳に展開した。

Word by Word

• महा-उत्सवः: a great festival
• महा-उत्सवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः

• तदा: at that time
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• वेद-ध्वनिः: sound of the Vedas (Vedic chanting)
• वेद-ध्वनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः

• अभूत्: arose/occurred
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• वाद्यानि: musical instruments
• वाद्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वादयामासुः: played (made sound)
• वादयामासुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वाद् (धातु) (णिजन्त causative: वादय-)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त — 'caused to sound/played'

• जनाः: people
• जनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• चतुर्विधानि: of four types
• चतुर्विधानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्याप्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः; विशेषणम् (वाद्यानि) — 'of four kinds'

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

FAQs

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

It portrays Shiva-centered worship as a sacred, society-wide mahotsava where Vedic sound (śabda) sanctifies the space and collective devotion becomes a means of grace (anugraha) and purification.

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

Veda-dhvani and auspicious music commonly accompany Saguna Shiva worship—especially around the Liṅga—signifying that outer ritual harmony supports inner remembrance of Shiva as Pati, the Lord who liberates.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Participate in Shiva worship with Vedic recitation or mantra-japa (notably the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside devotional singing/instruments, keeping the mind steady in reverence.