Shloka 42

प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च

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

Devanagari script

ईश्वरोपि वचः श्रुत्वा नंदिनः प्रहसन्निव । उवाच मधुरं वाक्यं बोधयंस्तं सदाशिवः

Transliteration

īśvaropi vacaḥ śrutvā naṃdinaḥ prahasanniva | uvāca madhuraṃ vākyaṃ bodhayaṃstaṃ sadāśivaḥ

Translation

Even the Lord, having heard Nandin’s words, as though smiling, spoke sweetly—Sadāśiva instructing and enlightening him.

Word by Word

• ईश्वरः: the Lord
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात) = 'also'

• वचः: words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having heard'

• नन्दिनः: of Nandin
• नन्दिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• प्रहसन्: smiling/laughing
• प्रहसन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√has (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agreeing with 'īśvaraḥ/sadāśivaḥ'

• इव: as if
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमा-वाचक अव्यय)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular

• मधुरम्: sweet
• मधुरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; qualifying 'vākyaṃ'

• वाक्यम्: speech/statement
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• बोधयन्: instructing
• बोधयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (धातु)
• Form: Causative present active participle (णिजन्त-शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'while instructing'

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• सदाशिवः: Sadāśiva
• सदाशिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadā-śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; कर्मधारय = 'Śiva who is ever (sadā) auspicious' (proper name)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Sadāśiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva responds to provocation not with retaliation but with gentle instruction—modeling anugraha (grace) that converts wrath into wisdom.

Significance: Teaches the pilgrim-devotee to seek Śiva’s grace through composure and right understanding; Śiva’s smile signifies transcendence over curses (karma).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It portrays Sadāśiva as the compassionate Guru: He listens, smiles with grace, and then gives clarifying instruction—showing that divine knowledge is transmitted through the Lord’s benevolent guidance to the devoted.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s accessible, personal aspect—Shiva who hears a devotee (Nandi) and responds with sweet instruction. This is the devotional foundation for Linga-worship, where the devotee approaches Shiva as present, listening, and guiding.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa (reverent listening) and guru-vākya-manana (reflecting on the Lord’s teaching). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair this with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Shiva as the inner teacher.