Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

अधोदृष्टिः सुधर्मात्मा शिलादो नाम वीर्यवान् । तस्यासीन्मुनिकैर्वृत्तिः शिवलोके च सोगमत्

Transliteration

adhodṛṣṭiḥ sudharmātmā śilādo nāma vīryavān | tasyāsīnmunikairvṛttiḥ śivaloke ca sogamat

Translation

Es gab einen Mann namens Śilāda, tugendhaft und von rechtschaffener Seele, berühmt für Kraft und Stärke. Die Weisen sorgten für seinen Lebensunterhalt, und schließlich gelangte er in Śivas Welt.

Word by Word

• अधो-दृष्टिः: one with downward gaze
• अधो-दृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधस्/अधो (अव्यय) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अधो दृष्टिः)

• सुधर्म-आत्मा: of righteous nature
• सुधर्म-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + धर्म + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (सुधर्मा आत्मा यस्य सः)

• शिलादः: Śilāda
• शिलादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिलाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निपातः (particle indicating appellation)

• वीर्यवान्: powerful / vigorous
• वीर्यवान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• आसीत्: was
• आसीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मुनिकैः: by sages
• मुनिकैः: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• वृत्तिः: livelihood / means of subsistence
• वृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिव-लोके: in Śiva’s world
• शिव-लोके: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लोक (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य लोकः)

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अगमत्: went / attained
• अगमत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist/लुङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Silada
• Munis

FAQs

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

It presents humility, dharma, and saintly support as aids to spiritual progress, culminating in attaining Śivaloka—symbolizing nearness to Pati (Śiva) through purified conduct and grace.

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

Attaining Śivaloka implies devotion to Saguna Śiva as the accessible Lord who grants a divine state; the verse frames liberation-oriented life (dharma supported by sages) as aligned with Śiva-upāsanā, often centered on the Liṅga in Purāṇic practice.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse indirectly recommends a disciplined, humble life under guidance of sages; as a practical takeaway, one may adopt daily Śiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” alongside sat-saṅga and dharmic livelihood.