Shloka 15

Kedāreśvara-pratiṣṭhā: Nara-Nārāyaṇa’s Worship and Śiva’s Abiding as Jyoti

Devanagari script

तद्रूपेण स्थितस्तत्र भक्तवत्सलनामभाक् । नयपाले शिरोभागो गतस्तद्रूपतः स्थितः

Transliteration

tadrūpeṇa sthitastatra bhaktavatsalanāmabhāk | nayapāle śirobhāgo gatastadrūpataḥ sthitaḥ

Translation

Abiding there in that very form, Śiva became renowned by the name “Bhaktavatsala,” the tender lover of His devotees. In that same form, a portion of His head also came to rest at Nayapāla and remained established there.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Adjectival to रूपेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (रूपेण इति सह)

• रूपेण: by/with (that) form
• रूपेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; ‘in the form of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• स्थितः: standing/remaining
• स्थितः: कर्ता (Participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• भक्तवत्सलनामभाक्: bearing the name ‘Bhaktavatsala’
• भक्तवत्सलनामभाक्: विशेषण (Adjectival to implicit subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्तवत्सल + नामन् + भाज् (धातु; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः भक्तवत्सल (कर्मधारयः ‘devotee-loving’) + नाम (तत्पुरुषः) + भाक् (भाज्-धातोः क्विप्/क्विन्-प्रत्ययान्त ‘partaker/bearer’) — ‘bearing the name “Bhaktavatsala”’

• नयपाले: in/at Nayapāla
• नयपाले: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नयपाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः नयस्य पालः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• शिरोभागः: a portion of the head
• शिरोभागः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः शिरसः भागः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• गतः: went/arrived
• गतः: कर्ता (Participial predicate of शिरोभागः)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — ‘gone/arrived’

• तत्: from that
• तत्: विशेषण (Adjectival to रूपतः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषण (रूपतः इति सह)

• रूपतः: from (that) form
• रूपतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभाव-प्रायः प्रयोगः ‘from the form/as regards form’

• स्थितः: stood/remained
• स्थितः: कर्ता (Participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s core Shaiva teaching that the Lord is Bhaktavatsala—He willingly abides in a manifest (saguṇa) form for the protection and uplift of devotees, making sacred places powerful through His presence.

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

By stating that Śiva “remained established” in a particular form at a place, the verse supports the Purāṇic idea that saguṇa manifestations—often worshiped as Liṅga or localized divine presence—are valid, grace-giving supports for devotion leading toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Pilgrimage and steady bhakti: visit the sacred site with purity, worship Śiva with pañcākṣara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and perform simple offerings (water, bilva) while meditating on Him as Bhaktavatsala.