Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

महेश्वरागमनं तथा नीराजन-सत्कारवर्णनम् / The Arrival of Maheśvara and the Rite of Welcome

Nīrājana

Devanagari script

नानाप्रकारवाद्यानि वादका मधुराक्षरम् । नानाप्रकारशिल्पेन वादयामासुरादरात्

Transliteration

nānāprakāravādyāni vādakā madhurākṣaram | nānāprakāraśilpena vādayāmāsurādarāt

Translation

乐师们以恭敬之心奏起种种乐器，发出甘美和雅的音声；又以多样的技艺与风格演奏——此乃以虔敬奉献的吉祥庆典。

Word by Word

• nānā-prakāra-vādyāni: various kinds of musical instruments
• nānā-prakāra-vādyāni: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + prakāra (प्रातिपदिक) + vādya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्म

• vādakāḥ: the musicians/players
• vādakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vādaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्ता

• madhura-akṣaram: sweetly (with sweet syllables/sounds)
• madhura-akṣaram: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (accusative of manner)

• nānā-prakāra-śilpena: by various techniques/arts
• nānā-prakāra-śilpena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + prakāra (प्रातिपदिक) + śilpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

• vādayāmāsuḥ: played (made resound)
• vādayāmāsuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vad (धातु) [णिच् causative]
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच् (causative): ‘made (instruments) sound/played’

• ādarāt: out of respect
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ पञ्चमी (ablative of cause)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti expressed through nāda (sacred sound): reverent music and skilled performance become an offering that steadies the mind and sanctifies the atmosphere for Shiva-centered worship.

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

In Saguna worship, upachāras (devotional services) include sound—singing, instruments, and recitation. This verse depicts such auspicious musical offering as part of honoring the divine presence (often centered on Shiva/Śiva-linga worship in Purāṇic practice).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer devotional sound: kīrtana, vādya-sevā (instrumental worship), or mantra-japa with a sweet, steady rhythm—especially during Shiva pūjā or Mahāśivarātri observances.