Shloka 15

नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

शरणागतरक्षार्थं कर्तुं सद्वृत्तमाहितम् । आनन्दार्थं हि तस्यास्तु शिव आविर्बभूव ह

Transliteration

śaraṇāgatarakṣārthaṃ kartuṃ sadvṛttamāhitam | ānandārthaṃ hi tasyāstu śiva āvirbabhūva ha

Translation

To protect the one who had taken refuge, and to establish righteous conduct, Śiva indeed manifested—so that she might attain joy and reassurance.

Word by Word

• शरण-आगत-रक्षा-अर्थम्: for the purpose of protecting those who have sought refuge
• शरण-आगत-रक्षा-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक) + आगत (कृदन्त; गम् धातु) + रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थ-शब्दान्त), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose-expression)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitival purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (infinitive)

• सत्-वृत्तम्: good conduct
• सत्-वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सत् एव वृत्तम्

• आहितम्: established/placed (in her)
• आहितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आहित (कृदन्त; धा धातु with आ- उपसर्ग)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; सत्-वृत्तम् इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• आनन्द-अर्थम्: for (her) joy
• आनन्द-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (अर्थ-शब्दान्त), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आविः: manifestly, into view
• आविः: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आविः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: manifestly/into view)

• बभूव: became/appeared
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed (narrative particle)
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (expletive particle, narrative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General sthala-purāṇa pattern: Śiva ‘āvirbhāva’ (manifestation) occurs when a devotee performs śaraṇāgati; the deity appears to protect and to re-establish sadvṛtta (right conduct).

Significance: Teaches that darśana of Śiva is granted by śaraṇāgati; pilgrimage is fulfilled by inner surrender culminating in anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s core grace: when a soul takes refuge (śaraṇāgati), the Lord manifests to protect, restore dharma (sadvṛtta), and bestow inner peace—showing Pati’s compassionate governance over the bound soul (paśu).

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

Śiva ‘appearing’ emphasizes Saguna grace—God becomes experientially present to devotees. In Jyotirliṅga contexts, this same principle is expressed through the Liṅga as the merciful, accessible form where protection and dharma are reaffirmed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śaraṇāgati with daily Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple vow of sadvṛtta (truthfulness, non-harm, purity); this aligns the devotee with Śiva’s protective grace.