Shloka 5

नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्

Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलब्रह्मकवराभयधृग्भस्मभास्वरः । स्वर्धुन्या विलसच्छीर्षस्सकलाङ्गमनोहरः

Transliteration

triśūlabrahmakavarābhayadhṛgbhasmabhāsvaraḥ | svardhunyā vilasacchīrṣassakalāṅgamanoharaḥ

Translation

Radiant with the sacred ash, He bore the trident, the protection of Brahmā, and the gesture of fearlessness. With the celestial Gaṅgā adorning His head, He was enchanting in the beauty of all His limbs.

Word by Word

• त्रिशूल-ब्रह्म-कवर-अभय-धृक्-भस्म-भास्वरः: radiant (with ash), bearing trident etc.
• त्रिशूल-ब्रह्म-कवर-अभय-धृक्-भस्म-भास्वरः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + कवर (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √धृ) + भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (one who is radiant with ash, bearing trident, brahmā’s armor/covering, and fearlessness)

• स्वर्धुन्या: with the heavenly river (Gaṅgā)
• स्वर्धुन्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्धुनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/सह (instrumental: with/by the heavenly river—Gaṅgā)

• विलसत्-शीर्षः: whose head is shining
• विलसत्-शीर्षः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलसत् (कृदन्त; √लस्) + शीर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास; पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विलसत् = शतृ-प्रत्यय (present participle) ‘shining’; विशेषणम् (whose head is shining)

• सकल-अङ्ग-मनोहरः: charming in all limbs
• सकल-अङ्ग-मनोहरः: Karta (कर्ता; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + मनोहर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/सप्तमीभावः: ‘in all limbs’); पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Ganga

FAQs

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

The verse meditatively presents Śiva’s Saguna form: bhasma signifies impermanence and inner renunciation, the abhaya-mudrā grants refuge to the devotee, and Gaṅgā on His head shows His power to hold and purify even the most overwhelming energies—guiding the soul (paśu) toward grace of the Lord (Pati).

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

Though Liṅga worship points to the formless (nirguṇa) reality, devotees approach through auspicious marks and symbols of the Lord’s manifest (saguṇa) presence—bhasma, trident, and Gaṅgā—supporting focused devotion (bhakti) and steady contemplation during pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Apply bhasma (vibhūti) reverently (often as Tripuṇḍra), recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and meditate on Śiva’s abhaya-mudrā and Gaṅgā upon His head as symbols of protection, purification, and fearlessness.