Shloka 35

नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

तत्र स्नातो नरः सम्यङ् नंदिकेशं समर्च्य च । ब्रह्महत्यादिभिः पापैर्मुच्यते ह्यखिलैरपि

Transliteration

tatra snāto naraḥ samyaṅ naṃdikeśaṃ samarcya ca | brahmahatyādibhiḥ pāpairmucyate hyakhilairapi

Translation

There, one who bathes properly and worships Nandikeśa with devotion is truly freed from all sins—beginning with brahmahatyā (the grave sin of slaying a brāhmaṇa) and every other stain besides.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/locative sense: 'there')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (स्थानवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place)

• स्नातः: having bathed
• स्नातः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Karta-viśeṣaṇa/qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्ना (धातु) → स्नात (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'having bathed'

• नरः: a man
• नरः: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सम्यक्: properly
• सम्यक्: क्रियाविशेषण (modifies action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• नन्दिकेशम्: Nandikeśa
• नन्दिकेशम्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिकेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• समर्च्य: having worshipped
• समर्च्य: पूर्वकाल (pūrvakāla-kriyā/preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + अर्च् (धातु) → समर्च्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having worshipped'

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (समुच्चयबोधक/conjunction)

• ब्रह्महत्या-आदिभिः: by (sins) such as brahmahatyā
• ब्रह्महत्या-आदिभिः: करण/हेतु (Karaṇa/Hetu: by/through; instrumental cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्महत्या + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (आदि-तत्पुरुष: 'brahmahatyā etc.'), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (ब्रह्महत्या-प्रधान), तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• पापैः: by sins
• पापैः: करण/हेतु (Karaṇa/Hetu)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• मुच्यते: is freed
• मुच्यते: क्रिया (verb); कर्ता = नरः (agent in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: निपात (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/emphatic particle)

• अखिलैः: all
• अखिलैः: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies 'pāpaiḥ')

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: निपात (inclusion)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (सम्भावना/अपि = 'even/also')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The tīrtha’s operative soteriology is stated: snāna (purification) plus arcana of Nandikeśa (devotional alignment to Pati) yields release from even mahāpātakas like brahmahatyā. This is a standard māhātmya formula establishing the site’s exceptional efficacy.

Significance: Assures pāpa-mokṣa (remission of sins), including mahāpātakas, for those who bathe ‘properly’ (samyaṅ) and worship Nandikeśa—emphasizing correct rite and devotion together.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It teaches that tirtha-snana joined with devotion and proper worship (especially of Śiva’s foremost attendant Nandikeśa) purifies the soul from even the heaviest karmic stains, making the aspirant fit for Śiva’s grace.

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

In Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage contexts, honoring Nandi—who faces the Liṅga as Śiva’s gatekeeper and ideal devotee—supports Saguna-Śiva worship by aligning the devotee with humility, service, and steady bhakti before approaching the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform a proper sacred bath (snāna) at the tīrtha, then offer respectful worship to Nandikeśa (e.g., water/flowers, circumambulation, prayer), cultivating devotion and repentance as the inner practice.