Shloka 21

Devanagari script

नीलो नवत्या देवेशं पूर्णभद्रस्तथैव च । कोटीनां चैव सप्तानां चतुर्वक्त्रो महाबलः

Transliteration

nīlo navatyā deveśaṃ pūrṇabhadrastathaiva ca | koṭīnāṃ caiva saptānāṃ caturvaktro mahābalaḥ

Translation

Nīla commands ninety koṭis; likewise Pūrṇabhadra commands the host of divine lords; and Caturvaktra, of great might, commands seven koṭis as well.

Word by Word

• नीलः: Nīla (name)
• नीलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (नाम/व्यक्तिनाम)

• नवत्या: by ninety
• नवत्या: Sahakari-karana (करण/Measure-instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नवति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (by ninety)

• देवेशम्: Deveśa (name/title)
• देवेशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• पूर्णभद्रः: Pūrṇabhadra (name)
• पूर्णभद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्णभद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (proper name)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/likewise’)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कोटीनाम्: of crores
• कोटीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• सप्तानाम्: of seven
• सप्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक

• चतुर्वक्त्रः: four-faced (one)
• चतुर्वक्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘one who has four faces’

• महाबलः: mighty, very strong
• महाबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘great strength’ → ‘very strong’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse enumerates gaṇa-leaders and their vast retinues, emphasizing Śiva’s cosmic sovereignty.

Significance: Cultivates bhāva of Śiva as Sarveśvara attended by innumerable gaṇas; inspires śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) and humility of the paśu before pati.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nīla
• Pūrṇabhadra
• Caturvaktra

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose śakti and sovereignty are expressed through countless gaṇas and cosmic administrators, showing that the universe functions under His ordered, compassionate governance.

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

By listing Śiva’s mighty attendants and their vast hosts, the text supports Saguna devotion: worship of the Liṅga honors the same Lord who manifests as the ruler of innumerable divine forces and protectors.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is gaṇa-smaraṇa with japa—chanting the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while contemplating Śiva as the inner ruler of all powers, cultivating surrender (śaraṇāgati) and steadiness in devotion.