Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

मृदंगतालगीतादिवेणुवीणाविशारदैः । विदग्धवेषभाषैश्च बहुभिः स्त्रीजनैर्वृतम्

Transliteration

mṛdaṃgatālagītādiveṇuvīṇāviśāradaiḥ | vidagdhaveṣabhāṣaiśca bahubhiḥ strījanairvṛtam

Translation

അത് അനേകം സ്ത്രീജനങ്ങളാൽ ചുറ്റപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു—മൃദംഗം, താളം, ഗാനം, വേണു-വീണാ കലകളിൽ പാണ്ഡിത്യമുള്ളവർ; നന്നായി അണിഞ്ഞൊരുങ്ങിയ വേഷവും സംസ്കൃതമായ വാക്കും കൈവശമുള്ളവർ।

Word by Word

• mṛdaṅga-tāla-gīta-ādi-veṇu-vīṇā-viśāradaiḥ: by those skilled in drum, rhythm, song, flute, vīṇā, etc.
• mṛdaṅga-tāla-gīta-ādi-veṇu-vīṇā-viśāradaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + gīta (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + veṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + vīṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + viśārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्व-समाहार/बहुपद-समासः (वाद्य-गीतादिषु ‘skilled in drum, rhythm, song, flute, vīṇā, etc.’)

• vidagdha-veṣa-bhāṣaiḥ: by those refined in dress and speech
• vidagdha-veṣa-bhāṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidagdha (प्रातिपदिक) + veṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः द्वन्द्वः (veṣa-bhāṣā = ‘dress and speech’; vidagdha = ‘refined/clever’)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• bahubhiḥ: by many
• bahubhiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• strī-janaiḥ: by women (female attendants)
• strī-janaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (strīṇāṃ janāḥ = ‘women-folk’)

• vṛtam: surrounded
• vṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √vṛ (धातु) → vṛta (कृदन्त; क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘surrounded/covered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, inferred from Purana dialogue convention in the Vayu Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

FAQs

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

The verse highlights a sattvic, refined environment where music, rhythm, and cultured speech become supportive offerings—outer beauty and art are elevated into devotional mood, preparing the mind for reverence toward Pati (Shiva) and dharmic contemplation.

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

In Saguna worship, devotion is expressed through upacāras (offerings) such as song and instrumental praise; this verse portrays the aesthetic and disciplined setting that commonly accompanies such worship, indirectly affirming that the senses can be purified and directed toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and kīrtana: chanting the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady tāla (rhythm) and focused mind, treating music and voice as offerings, while maintaining inner restraint and purity.