Shloka 26

नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र हरिब्रह्मादयः सुराः । शिवाविर्भावमाज्ञाय ययुर्हर्षसमन्विताः

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare tatra haribrahmādayaḥ surāḥ | śivāvirbhāvamājñāya yayurharṣasamanvitāḥ

Translation

Unterdessen, zur selben Zeit und am selben Ort, machten sich die Götter—Hari (Viṣṇu), Brahmā und die anderen—als sie von der Offenbarung des Herrn Śiva erfuhren, voller Freude dorthin auf.

Word by Word

• एतस्मिन्: in this
• एतस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अन्तरे: in the interval/meanwhile
• अन्तरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; ‘एतस्मिन्’ इत्यनेन सह सापेक्ष-प्रयोगः

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• हरिब्रह्मादयः: Hari, Brahmā and others
• हरिब्रह्मादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; समासः हरि-ब्रह्म-आदयः (आदि-शब्दान्त तत्पुरुषः: ‘हरिः ब्रह्मा च आदयः येषाम्’)

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; ‘हरिब्रह्मादयः’ इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन्

• शिवाविर्भावम्: Śiva’s manifestation/appearance
• शिवाविर्भावम्: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आविर्भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः शिवस्य आविर्भावः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• आज्ञाय: having known
• आज्ञाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having known/realized’

• ययुः: went
• ययुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हर्षसमन्विताः: endowed with joy
• हर्षसमन्विताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + समन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः हर्षेण समन्विताः (तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Devas (Viṣṇu, Brahmā, etc.) learn of Śiva’s āvirbhāva and rush joyfully—standard kṣetra-māhātmya motif where divine witnesses validate the manifestation and sanctify the locale.

Significance: The gods’ arrival signals the site’s exceptional sanctity; hearing/reciting such āvirbhāva accounts is held to confer puṇya and strengthen śraddhā in pilgrimage.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the highest devas respond to Śiva’s self-manifestation with reverent joy, implying that grace (Śiva’s āvirbhāva) is the real catalyst for spiritual awakening and devotion.

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

The verse centers on Śiva’s “āvirbhāva” (manifest appearance), supporting Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as visibly present and accessible, as in Jyotirliṅga traditions where the Lord reveals Himself for devotees’ refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate harṣa-bhakti (joyful devotion) through daily remembrance—japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and mindful pilgrimage-intent (tīrtha-bhāva) toward Śiva’s manifested presence.