Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

तपसानेन किं कार्यं भवते हि महा मते । ददामि पुत्रं सर्वज्ञं सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगम्

Transliteration

tapasānena kiṃ kāryaṃ bhavate hi mahā mate | dadāmi putraṃ sarvajñaṃ sarvaśāstrārthapāragam

Translation

„O Großgesinnter, wozu bedarfst du noch dieser Askese? Ich werde dir einen Sohn gewähren—allwissend und vollendet im wahren Sinn aller Śāstras.“

Word by Word

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• किम्: what?
• किम्: विशेष्य-प्रश्न (Interrogative qualifier/प्रश्न)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम

• कार्यं: need/purpose
• कार्यं: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवते: for you
• भवते: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/Dative), एकवचन; आदरार्थ-सम्बोधन-प्रयोग (honorific)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• महा: great
• महा: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मते: O wise one
• मते: सम्बोधन (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुत्रं: a son
• पुत्रं: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञं: all-knowing
• सर्वज्ञं: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्वज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पुत्रम्)

• सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगम्: versed in the meanings of all scriptures
• सर्वशास्त्रार्थपारगम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-शास्त्र-अर्थ-पारग (प्रातिपदिक; घटकाः: सर्व + शास्त्र + अर्थ + पारग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (पुत्रम्); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/समाहार-निर्देश: 'सर्वेषां शास्त्राणाम् अर्थेषु पारगः'

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This episode is part of Śilāda’s tapas leading to the birth/obtaining of a divinely endowed son (Nandin in broader tradition), but the verse itself does not localize to a Jyotirliṅga sthala.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on anugraha (Shiva’s grace): tapas has value, but its fruition is ultimately fulfilled when Shiva, pleased, bestows the boon that leads toward dharma and spiritual illumination.

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s compassionate responsiveness to devotion and disciplined worship—Shiva, approached through vows, mantra, and reverence, personally grants results, showing the living reciprocity central to Linga-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is sustained tapas supported by Shiva-upāsanā—regular japa (especially the Panchakshara), purity observances, and steadfast devotion—culminating in Shiva’s direct bestowal of grace.