Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

Devanagari script

वीणामृदंगप्रमुखवाद्यान्नानाविधान्मुने । उत्सवं कारयामास वादयित्वा सुगायनैः

Transliteration

vīṇāmṛdaṃgapramukhavādyānnānāvidhānmune | utsavaṃ kārayāmāsa vādayitvā sugāyanaiḥ

Translation

मुने, वीणामृदङ्गप्रमुखैर्नानाविधैर्वाद्यैः सुगायनैश्च वादयित्वा उत्सवं कारयामास।

Word by Word

• वीणामृदङ्गप्रमुखवाद्यान्: musical instruments such as vīṇā and mṛdaṅga
• वीणामृदङ्गप्रमुखवाद्यान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीणा + मृदङ्ग + प्रमुख + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः (बहुपद-तत्पुरुष) ‘वीणा-मृदङ्ग-प्रमुखानि वाद्यानि’ इति

• नानाविधान्: of various kinds
• नानाविधान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; ‘वाद्यान्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; समासः नानाः विधाः येषां ते (कर्मधारय-प्रायः)

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

• उत्सवम्: festival
• उत्सवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कारयामास: caused to be performed/arranged
• कारयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) णिजन्त + आम्-आस (परिप्रयोग)
• Form: लिट्/परिप्रयोग (आमास-योगः), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिजन्त (causative) ‘caused to be done/arranged’

• वादयित्वा: having had (them) played
• वादयित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया-अनुबन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वादय (√वद्/वाद् णिजन्त) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having caused to be played’

• सुगायनैः: by good singers/musicians
• सुगायनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + गायन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; समासः सुगायनाः (good singers/musicians)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse presents utsava (sacred celebration) as a form of bhakti where sound—instrumental music and devotional singing—becomes an offering that purifies the mind and turns emotion toward Shiva-tattva, supporting inner steadiness and devotion.

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

Utsava with music and singing is a hallmark of Saguna worship—honoring Shiva’s accessible, gracious presence through external acts (upacāra). Such celebratory offerings complement Linga worship by transforming the environment and devotees’ minds into a temple-like field of reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests nāma-saṅkīrtana and stotra-gāna (devotional chanting/singing) as a practical takeaway; one may accompany worship with the Panchākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") in a musical cadence as an offering of sound.