Shloka 28

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति शप्तास्तथा तेन दक्षेण शिवकिंकराः । तच्छ्रुत्वातिरुषाविष्टोभवन्नंदी शिवप्रियः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti śaptāstathā tena dakṣeṇa śivakiṃkarāḥ | tacchrutvātiruṣāviṣṭobhavannaṃdī śivapriyaḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: “Thus were Śiva’s attendants cursed by Dakṣa. Hearing those words, Nandī—dear to Lord Śiva—became overwhelmed with intense wrath.”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/quotative particle

• शप्ताः: cursed
• शप्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/वर्ण्याः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शप्त (कृदन्त; √शप्/शपँ (धातु), क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• तथा: thus/so
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दक्षेण: by Dakṣa
• दक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिव-किंकराः: Śiva's attendants
• शिव-किंकराः: Karta (कर्ता/वर्ण्याः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य किंकराः)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; (object of श्रुत्वा)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• अति-रुषा: with great anger
• अति-रुषा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + रुषा (प्रातिपदिक; रुष्-भाव)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; करणत्वेन (instrumental of manner)

• आविष्टः: possessed/overcome
• आविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता/नन्दी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आविष्ट (कृदन्त; √विश् (धातु) + आ-, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• नन्दी: Nandī
• नन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन्/नन्दी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिव-प्रियः: dear to Śiva
• शिव-प्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य प्रियः)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Daksha
• Shiva
• Nandi
• Shiva's attendants (Shivakiṅkaras)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that harming or insulting Śiva’s devotees (śivabhaktas) creates grave spiritual demerit; Nandī’s reaction reflects the protective power of devotion and the seriousness of aparādha against the Lord’s community.

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

Nandī, as Śiva’s foremost attendant, embodies service to Saguna Śiva (the worshipful Lord with attributes). Respecting Nandī and Śiva’s gaṇas aligns the devotee with dharma and reverence central to Liṅga worship traditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and avoid devotee-offense; in temple practice, devotees honor Nandī before approaching the Śiva-liṅga, often with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offering bhasma/flowers with a calm, non-hostile mind.