Shloka 26

नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”

Devanagari script

अथोन्मील्य मुनिर्नेत्रे सोमं शंभुं विलोकयन् । द्रुतं प्रणम्य स मुदा पादयोर्न्यपतन्मुने

Transliteration

athonmīlya munirnetre somaṃ śaṃbhuṃ vilokayan | drutaṃ praṇamya sa mudā pādayornyapatanmune

Translation

Da öffnete der Weise seine Augen und erblickte Soma — Śambhu selbst. Voll Freude verneigte er sich sogleich und fiel in ehrfürchtiger Hingabe zu den Füßen des Herrn.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• उन्मील्य: having opened
• उन्मील्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√मील् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—‘having opened’

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नेत्रे: (his) two eyes
• नेत्रे: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; (युग्मार्थे: ‘both eyes’)

• सोमम्: Soma
• सोमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शम्भुम्: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विलोकयन्: looking at
• विलोकयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√लोक् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि—‘while looking’

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुतम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रयोग)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; अर्थः—‘having bowed’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; भावे—‘with joy’

• पादयोः: at the (two) feet
• पादयोः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी/षष्ठी-विभक्ति (7th Locative / 6th Genitive), द्विवचन; अत्र अधिकरणे (locative) ‘at the feet’

• न्यपतत्: fell down
• न्यपतत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√पत् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva-darśana as a grace-filled awakening: when the seeker truly “opens the eyes” of awareness, he recognizes Śambhu and spontaneously surrenders, showing bhakti as a direct means toward liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Śambhu as directly perceivable and relatable—mirroring how devotees approach the Liṅga for focused worship and receive the Lord’s presence through reverent vision and surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple sādhana is implied: contemplative inwardness (closing/opening the eyes of attention), followed by praṇāma/prostration; it pairs naturally with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and heartfelt offering at Shiva’s feet.