Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

यावत्पृष्टवते तस्मै प्रोचुः स्वागतकारणम् । तुमुलः शुश्रुवे तावद्दिवि दुंदुभिनिस्वनः

Transliteration

yāvatpṛṣṭavate tasmai procuḥ svāgatakāraṇam | tumulaḥ śuśruve tāvaddivi duṃdubhinisvanaḥ

Translation

ചോദിച്ചിരുന്ന അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് അവർ സ്വാഗതത്തിന്റെ കാരണമെഴുതിത്തുടങ്ങുമ്പോഴേക്കും, അതേ നിമിഷം ആകാശത്തിൽ ദുന്ദുഭികളുടെ മഹാനാദം കേട്ടു.

Word by Word

• यावत्: as long as/when
• यावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative adverb (यावत्-तावत्) meaning 'as long as/when'

• पृष्टवते: to the one who had asked
• पृष्टवते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पृच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect active participle (क्तवतु), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; Masculine/Neuter dative of participial stem; 'to him who had asked'

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• प्रोचुः: they told
• प्रोचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+√वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Parasmaipada; 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• स्वागत-कारणम्: the reason for the welcome
• स्वागत-कारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वागत (प्रातिपदिक) + कारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; object of प्रोचुः; समास: स्वागतस्य कारणम्

• तुमुलः: tumultuous/loud
• तुमुलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying दुन्दुभिनिस्वनः

• शुश्रुवे: was heard
• शुश्रुवे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: Perfect tense (लिट्), Ātmanepada; 3rd person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• तावत्: just then/so long
• तावत्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तावत् (अव्यय)
• Form: Correlative adverb (यावत्-तावत्) meaning 'then/just then/so long'

• दिवि: in heaven/in the sky
• दिवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; adverbial location

• दुन्दुभि-निस्वनः: the sound of drums
• दुन्दुभि-निस्वनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक) + निस्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; subject of शुश्रुवे; समास: दुन्दुभेः निस्वनः (sound of drums)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Celestial duṃdubhi (divine drum) omen signaling a descent/arrival from higher realms

FAQs

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

The heavenly drum-sound signifies divine approval and auspicious confirmation that the unfolding event is guided by Shiva’s grace (anugraha), encouraging faith and receptivity in the listener.

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

In Purāṇic Shaiva narrative, such celestial sounds commonly accompany moments when Saguna Shiva’s presence or blessing becomes imminent; they function as a sign that devotion and right reception of a sacred guest or teaching aligns with Shiva’s will.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Treat auspicious moments with inner attentiveness: mentally recite the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and cultivate śraddhā (faith) while listening to sacred instruction, as the verse emphasizes timely receptivity to divine संकेत (signs).