Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

नृत्यद्भिश्चैव गायद्भिर्वादयद्भिश्च संवृतम् । वीरगोवृषचिह्नेन विद्रमद्रुमयष्टिना

Transliteration

nṛtyadbhiścaiva gāyadbhirvādayadbhiśca saṃvṛtam | vīragovṛṣacihnena vidramadrumayaṣṭinā

Translation

四周尽是舞者、歌者与奏乐者；又以英勇之公牛为徽记，立于珊瑚木所制之杖上，昭然可见。

Word by Word

• नृत्यद्भिः: by dancers (dancing ones)
• नृत्यद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृत् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘by those who are dancing’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• गायद्भिः: by singers (singing ones)
• गायद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• वादयद्भिः: by instrumentalists (playing ones)
• वादयद्भिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वादय् (णिजन्त; वद्/वाद् धातु-प्रेरण)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction)

• संवृतम्: surrounded/filled
• संवृतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-वृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘covered/surrounded’ (predicate/qualifier of implied object)

• वीर-गो-वृष-चिह्नेन: with the emblem of a hero, cow and bull
• वीर-गो-वृष-चिह्नेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + गो (प्रातिपदिक) + वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण (instrument/mark)

• विद्रम-द्रुम-यष्टिना: with a staff made of coral-tree (coral-like wood)
• विद्रम-द्रुम-यष्टिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + द्रुम (प्रातिपदिक) + यष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; करण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Pashupatinatha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights bhakti expressed through sacred sound and movement—dance, song, and instruments—showing that devotion can be offered as a joyful, collective worship that turns the mind toward Pati (Shiva).

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

The described festive encirclement and the bull-emblem point to Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through visible symbols and ceremonial praise, which supports concentration and reverence that ultimately leads the devotee toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests kīrtana (devotional singing), vādyasevā (offering music), and utsava-bhakti (festival worship); practitioners can pair such worship with mantra-japa (e.g., the Panchakshara) to stabilize inward attention.