Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

दिव्य-भवन-छत्र-निर्माणः तथा देवसमाह्वानम्

Divine Pavilion and Canopy; Summoning the Gods

Devanagari script

वीणामृदंगप्रमुखवाद्यान्नानाविधान्मुने । उत्सवं कारयामास वादयित्वा सुगायनैः

Transliteration

vīṇāmṛdaṃgapramukhavādyānnānāvidhānmune | utsavaṃ kārayāmāsa vādayitvā sugāyanaiḥ

Translation

Hỡi hiền giả, nàng đã khiến một đại lễ hội được cử hành, cho tấu lên muôn loại nhạc khí—đứng đầu là vīṇā và mṛdaṅga—cùng tiếng ca ngọt lành của những ca công thiện nghệ.

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.