Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

अवभृथस्नान-तीर्थयात्रा-तेजोदर्शनम् | Avabhṛtha Bath, Tīrtha-Pilgrimage, and the Vision of Divine Radiance

Devanagari script

तदुद्भावितगानोत्थरसैर्माध्यस्थमाचरन् । गन्धर्वैरप्सरोभिश्च सुखमास्ते निषेवितः

Transliteration

tadudbhāvitagānottharasairmādhyasthamācaran | gandharvairapsarobhiśca sukhamāste niṣevitaḥ

Translation

അങ്ങനെ ഉദ്ഭവിച്ച ഗാനങ്ങളുടെ സൂക്ഷ്മരസത്തിൽ ആനന്ദിച്ച് അദ്ദേഹം സമത്വ-ശാന്തിയിൽ നിലകൊള്ളുന്നു. ഗന്ധർവരും അപ്സരസ്സുകളും സേവിക്കുമ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹം സുഖമായി വസിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• तत्: thereby/with that
• तत्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adverbially ("thereby/with that")

• उद्भावित-गान-उत्थ-रसैः: by the tastes/flavours arising from the inspired singing
• उद्भावित-गान-उत्थ-रसैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्+√भू (धातु) > उद्भावित (कृदन्त) + गान (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + रस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; समास: उद्भावितं गानम् (by/through aroused singing) → गानोत्थः रसः (flavour arising from song) → तैः रसैः

• माध्यस्थम्: neutrality/equanimity
• माध्यस्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माध्यस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used as object of आचरन्

• आचरन्: practising/observing
• आचरन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√चर् (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त), Parasmaipada; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with implied subject (he)

• गन्धर्वैः: by Gandharvas
• गन्धर्वैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• अप्सरोभिः: by Apsarases
• अप्सरोभिः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-बोधक)

• सुखम्: happily/with ease
• सुखम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण)

• आस्ते: sits/remains
• आस्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √आस् (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Ātmanepada; 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• निषेवितः: attended/served (by)
• निषेवितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि+√सेव् (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with implied subject

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

It highlights mādhyasthya—steady equanimity—where even refined pleasures (rasa from music) do not disturb inner balance, reflecting a Shaiva yogin’s maturity under Pati (Shiva) as the inner Lord.

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

Service by celestial beings symbolizes the fruit of Saguna-Shiva devotion and disciplined worship: when the mind becomes stable through Shiva-oriented practice, external honors may arise, yet the devotee remains poised, centered on Shiva rather than on enjoyment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is meditative steadiness: practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dhyāna to remain neutral amid pleasant stimuli, treating them as passing rasas rather than objects of attachment.