Shloka 30

नभगोपाख्यानम्

Nabhaga-Upākhyāna: The Account of Nabhaga and Shiva-Jñāna

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । आकर्ण्य नाभगं वाक्यमिदं सत्यमुदीरितम् । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा पुरुषः कृष्णदर्शनः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ākarṇya nābhagaṃ vākyamidaṃ satyamudīritam | pratyuvāca prasannātmā puruṣaḥ kṛṣṇadarśanaḥ

Translation

قال ننديإيشڤرا: لما سمع ذلك الشخص ذو الإشعاع الداكن—وقد صفا قلبه—هذه الكلمة الصادقة التي نطق بها نابهاغا، أجاب.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उवाच (लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण्/कृ (धातु; ‘to hear’) → आकर्ण्य (ल्यप्/absolutive)
• Form: ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थक अव्ययकृदन्त (Absolutive): पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• नाभगम्: Nabhaga
• नाभगम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (आकर्ण्य-क्रियायाः: whom he heard)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• वाक्यम्: statement, speech
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (आकर्ण्य-क्रियायाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) वाक्यम् इति

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) वाक्यम् इति

• उदीरितम्: uttered, spoken
• उदीरितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् + ईर् (धातु) → उदीरित (क्त-प्रत्यय/PPP)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) वाक्यम् इति

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु) → प्रत्युवाच (लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• प्रसन्नात्मा: pleased-souled
• प्रसन्नात्मा: विशेषण (Qualifier) (पुरुषः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि (प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य सः = one whose self is pleased)

• पुरुषः: the person
• पुरुषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृष्णदर्शनः: Kṛṣṇadarśana (the dark-appearing one)
• कृष्णदर्शनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (पुरुषः इति समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (कृष्णं दर्शनं यस्य सः / कृष्णदर्शन-नामकः)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara
• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

It highlights two Shaiva virtues that prepare one for grace: satya (truthful speech) and prasāda (inner serenity). When truth is spoken and heard with clarity, the divine response arises—symbolizing Pati (the Lord) guiding the seeker.

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

The verse frames a living encounter with the Lord in a perceivable form (“the Person of dark radiance”), pointing to Saguna Shiva’s accessibility—He responds to devotion and dharmic truth, just as the Linga makes the transcendent approachable in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice satya with japa: recite the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a calm, pleased mind (prasannātmā). The takeaway is steadiness of mind and truthful intent as the foundation for effective Shiva-upāsanā.