Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra

Devanagari script

प्रास्थानिको महानादः पटहः समताड्यत । ततो मधुरवाद्यानि सह तालोद्यतैस्स्वनैः

Transliteration

prāsthāniko mahānādaḥ paṭahaḥ samatāḍyata | tato madhuravādyāni saha tālodyataissvanaiḥ

Translation

启程之时，轰然巨响的战鼓被击响；继而诸般柔美乐器齐鸣，并有高举的钹随节奏叮当作响。

Word by Word

• प्रास्थानिकः: pertaining to departure (departure-signal)
• प्रास्थानिकः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रास्थानिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; विशेषण of ‘पटहः/महानादः’

• महानादः: a great sound
• महानादः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular; कर्मधारय (महान् नादः)

• पटहः: the kettle-drum
• पटहः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पटह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन — Nominative singular (apposition to ‘महानादः’)

• समताड्यत: was struck/beat
• समताड्यत: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√ताड् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन — 3sg imperfect; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive sense)

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रम/काल (Sequential marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — adverb (sequence: ‘then’)

• मधुर-वाद्यानि: sweet musical instruments
• मधुर-वाद्यानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक) + वाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन — Nominative plural; कर्मधारय (मधुराणि वाद्यानि)

• सह: together with
• सह: सहकारक (Accompaniment)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय — preposition/postposition (‘with’)

• ताल-उद्यतैः: with time-keeping (cymbal) beats
• ताल-उद्यतैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यत (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural; तत्पुरुष (‘raised/struck with cymbals/keeping time’) qualifying ‘स्वनैः’

• स्वनैः: with sounds
• स्वनैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

FAQs

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

It portrays an auspicious commencement marked by sacred sound—drums and cymbals—which, in Shaiva practice, supports bhakti by gathering the mind and community toward Shiva-centered action.

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

Such musical accompaniment commonly belongs to Saguna Shiva worship—processions, pūjā, and celebratory rites—where sound (nāda) becomes an offering (upacāra) to the Linga and the manifest Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use disciplined sacred sound: accompany worship with rhythmic tāla and devotional singing, or internalize nāda through mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steady, reverent cadence.