Shloka 10

नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

न मानितवती तं च ब्राह्मणी सा तपोरता । अतीव हि तपोनिष्ठासीच्छिवध्यानमाश्रिता

Transliteration

na mānitavatī taṃ ca brāhmaṇī sā taporatā | atīva hi taponiṣṭhāsīcchivadhyānamāśritā

Translation

That Brahmin woman, devoted to austerity, did not pay him any special honor; for she was exceedingly steadfast in tapas, wholly absorbed in meditation on Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• मानितवती: did not honor / did not show respect
• मानितवती: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मान् (धातु) → मानित (कृदन्त/क्त) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘मानित’ + वत् (possessive) = ‘having honored’; वाक्ये क्रियापदवत् प्रयुक्तम् (finite-verb sense)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• ब्राह्मणी: the Brahmin woman
• ब्राह्मणी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तपो-रता: devoted to austerity
• तपो-रता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तपसि रता)

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तीव्रार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (very, exceedingly)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

• तपो-निष्ठा: steadfast in austerity
• तपो-निष्ठा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तपसि निष्ठा = steadfast in austerity)

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

• शिव-ध्यानम्: meditation on Śiva
• शिव-ध्यानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य ध्यानम्)

• आश्रिता: having taken refuge in / devoted to
• आश्रिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु) → आश्रित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights niṣṭhā (single-pointed steadiness): true Shaiva spirituality is measured by unwavering absorption in Śiva—tapas and dhyāna—rather than social formalities. Such inner refuge in Pati (Śiva) is presented as a purifier leading toward liberation.

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

Although Kotirudra Saṃhitā emphasizes Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage, this verse points to the complementary inner worship—Śiva-dhyāna. In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship (Liṅga, mantra, pūjā) matures into inward contemplation where the mind rests on Śiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is Śiva-dhyāna supported by tapas—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), mental worship of the Liṅga, and disciplined living; optionally complemented by Shaiva marks like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.