Shloka 38

नन्दिकेश्वरोत्पत्तिः — Nandikesvara’s Origin, Shiva’s Boons, and the Rise of Sacred Rivers

Devanagari script

पुत्रप्रेम्णाभ्यषिञ्चच्च स्रोतोभिस्तनयैस्त्रिभिः पयसा शङ्खगौरेण देवदेवं निरीक्ष्य सा

Transliteration

putrapremṇābhyaṣiñcacca srotobhistanayaistribhiḥ payasā śaṅkhagaureṇa devadevaṃ nirīkṣya sā

Translation

Gazing upon the Deva of devas, she—moved by love for her son—performed abhiṣeka for the Lord, bathing Him with three streams from her breasts and pouring conch-white milk upon the God of gods.

Word by Word

• पुत्र-प्रेम्णा: out of love for (her) son

• अभ्यषिञ्चत्: she sprinkled/bathed (performed abhiṣeka)

• स्रोतोभिः: with streams/flows

• स्तनयैः: from the breasts

• त्रिभिः: threefold/with three (streams)

• पयसा: with milk

• शङ्ख-गौरेण: conch-white, brilliantly pale

• देव-देवम्: the Lord of the gods (Śiva)

• निरीक्ष्य: having looked upon, beholding

• सा: she

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It highlights abhiṣeka as a primary mode of Linga/Śiva worship—here, milk (payaḥ) symbolizes purity and sattva offered to Devadeva, indicating that heartfelt bhakti itself becomes a consecrating rite.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is addressed as Devadeva, the supreme Pati (Lord) who receives worship beyond ordinary deities; the verse implies His transcendence while remaining accessible to intimate devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Milk-abhiṣeka (snāna/abhiṣeka) is emphasized; in a Pāśupata sense, it also shows the redirection of intense attachment into God-centered worship, loosening pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).