Shloka 29

Manu’s Progeny and the Birth of Iḍā

Genealogy and Dharma-Choice

Devanagari script

आवर्तमाने गांधर्वे स्थितो लब्धक्षणः क्षणम् । शुश्राव तत्र गांधर्वं नर्तने ब्रह्मणोंऽतिके

Transliteration

āvartamāne gāṃdharve sthito labdhakṣaṇaḥ kṣaṇam | śuśrāva tatra gāṃdharvaṃ nartane brahmaṇoṃ'tike

Translation

当乾闼婆的乐音回旋高涨之时，他立于其处，得着片刻空隙。就在那一瞬，靠近梵天——舞蹈正进行之所——他听见了那天界乾闼婆的妙乐。

Word by Word

• आवर्तमाने: while (it) was going on
• आवर्तमाने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ√वृत् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्राय), सप्तमी एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-आधारानुसार; ‘आवर्तमाने’ = ‘चलति/प्रवर्तमाने’ (while going on)

• गान्धर्वे: in the gāndharva (music)
• गान्धर्वे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• स्थितः: standing / staying
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लब्ध-क्षणः: having obtained an opportunity
• लब्ध-क्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लभ् (धातु) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (लब्ध) + प्रातिपदिक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-भाव: ‘लब्धः क्षणः यस्य’ (बहुव्रीह्यर्थे प्रयोगः)

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कालावधि), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे काल-परिमाण

• शुश्राव: heard
• शुश्राव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• गान्धर्वम्: the gāndharva (music)
• गान्धर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• नर्तने: in the dance
• नर्तने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अन्तिके: near
• अन्तिके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: celestial gandharva performance in Brahmaloka

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Gandharvas

FAQs

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

It highlights how worldly or even celestial enjoyments (music and dance) arise and pass, while the seeker’s true gain is the ‘kṣaṇa’—a moment of awakened attention. In Shaiva thought, such moments can be turned inward toward Pati (Śiva), rather than being bound by Pāśa (sense-enchantment).

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

Though the verse describes Gandharva music near Brahmā, its implied teaching supports Saguna Shiva worship: the devotee learns to redirect the mind from captivating sounds to steady remembrance of Shiva (often through mantra and Linga-dhyāna), transforming sensory impressions into devotion rather than bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa with breath-awareness—especially the Panchākṣarī (‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’)—so that even amid sound and activity the mind remains anchored. If following Shiva Purana ritual norms, one may pair japa with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness.