Shloka 9

नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्

The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga

Devanagari script

अथ सा सुव्रता नारी शिवध्यानपरायणा । तस्मिन्दृष्टिं दधौ नैव कामदृष्ट्या मुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

atha sā suvratā nārī śivadhyānaparāyaṇā | tasmindṛṣṭiṃ dadhau naiva kāmadṛṣṭyā munīśvarāḥ

Translation

Then that virtuous woman, wholly devoted to meditation on Śiva, did not cast her gaze upon him with a lustful look—O best of sages.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमार्थक-निपात

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

• सु-व्रता: of good vows, virtuous
• सु-व्रता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुन्दरं व्रतं यस्याः/सुशीलव्रता)

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

• शिव-ध्यान-परायणा: wholly devoted to Śiva-meditation
• शिव-ध्यान-परायणा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + परायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवध्यानं परायणं यस्याः = devoted to meditation on Śiva)

• तस्मिन्: in him / toward him
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्टिम्: gaze, look
• दृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दधौ: placed, fixed
• दधौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• एव: indeed, at all
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (emphasis)

• काम-दृष्ट्या: with lustful intent
• काम-दृष्ट्या: Karana (करण/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कामस्य दृष्टिः = lustful gaze)

• मुनीश्वराः: the great sages (lords among munis)
• मुनीश्वराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (मुनीनां ईश्वराः/श्रेष्ठमुनयः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śuddhi (inner purity) as a mark of true Śiva-bhakti: one established in Śiva-dhyāna does not allow desire to color perception, supporting steadiness on the path to liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship trains the mind to see the divine presence rather than an object of craving; this verse reflects that devotional discipline—turning attention from kāma to contemplation of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-dhyāna with sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha), supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a disciplined vrata—especially fitting for Mahāśivarātri observances.