Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

स्कन्दसरः (Skandasara) — तीर्थवर्णनम् / Description of the Skandasara Sacred Lake

Devanagari script

अप्सरोगणसंकीर्णं रुद्रकन्याभिरावृतम् । मृदंगमुरजोद्घुष्टं वेणुवीणारवान्वितम्

Transliteration

apsarogaṇasaṃkīrṇaṃ rudrakanyābhirāvṛtam | mṛdaṃgamurajodghuṣṭaṃ veṇuvīṇāravānvitam

Translation

彼处充满众多阿普萨拉天女之众，又为鲁陀罗之女所环绕；鼓声如雷，mṛdaṅga与muraja齐鸣，并有笛与维纳琴（vīṇā）之乐相随。

Word by Word

• अप्सरः-गण-संकीर्णम्: filled/crowded with groups of apsarases
• अप्सरः-गण-संकीर्णम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्सरस् (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक) + संकीर्ण (कृदन्त; √कॄ/कॢ? actually √कॄ/कॢ not; here from सम्+√कॄ?; standard: संकीर्ण = सम्+√कॄ (कृदन्त))
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (past passive participle)

• रुद्र-कन्याभिः: by Rudra’s daughters
• रुद्र-कन्याभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन

• आवृतम्: covered/surrounded
• आवृतम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-√वृ (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP)

• मृदङ्ग-मुरज-उद्घुष्टम्: resounding with mṛdaṅga and muraja drums
• मृदङ्ग-मुरज-उद्घुष्टम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मुरज (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्घुष्ट (कृदन्त; उद्+√घुष् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण (PPP)

• वेणु-वीणा-रव-अन्वितम्: accompanied by the sounds of flute and vīṇā
• वेणु-वीणा-रव-अन्वितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेणु (प्रातिपदिक) + वीणा (प्रातिपदिक) + रव (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ (धातु) with anu-; adjectival)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कृदन्त-विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Heavenly celebration accompanying a divine advent (gandharva-apsaras soundscape)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Apsaras

FAQs

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

The verse portrays a sanctified divine gathering around Rudra, where celestial music and auspicious beings symbolize a sattvic atmosphere that elevates the mind toward bhakti and contemplation of Shiva (Pati) as the gracious Lord.

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

The described splendor and sacred soundscape support Saguna-upāsanā—devotional worship of Shiva with attributes—where music, praise, and orderly celebration become offerings that steady attention on the Lord’s presence (often centered on the Linga in ritual contexts).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests nāda-bhakti: using sacred sound—kīrtana, instrumental accompaniment, and mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—to collect the mind; it also aligns with temple-style pūjā where music is offered as upacāra.