Shloka 17

जालन्धरस्य दूतप्रेषणम् — Jalandhara Sends an Envoy to Kailāsa

The Provocation of Śiva

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य नन्दिना स प्रवेशितः । जगामोग्रसभां राहुर्विस्मयोद्भुतलोचनः

Transliteration

sanatkumāra uvāca | iti śrutvā vacastasya nandinā sa praveśitaḥ | jagāmograsabhāṃ rāhurvismayodbhutalocanaḥ

Translation

Sanatkumāra said: “Having heard Nandin’s words, Rāhu was led in by him. With eyes widened in wonder, Rāhu proceeded into that formidable assembly.”

Word by Word

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वक्ता (speaker)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणचिह्न (quotative)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; “having heard”

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नन्दिना: by Nandin
• नन्दिना: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/सहायक (agent/instrument)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रवेशितः: was led/introduced
• प्रवेशितः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√विश् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगार्थः “was caused to enter/was led in”

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उग्रसभाम्: the fierce assembly/hall
• उग्रसभाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समास: उग्रा सभा (विशेषण-विशेष्य, कर्मधारय)

• राहुः: Rāhu
• राहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विस्मय-उद्भुत-लोचनः: whose eyes were wide with wonder
• विस्मय-उद्भुत-लोचनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मय (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: यस्य लोचने विस्मयेन उद्भुते (one whose eyes are widened with astonishment)

Speaker

Sanatkumara

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Nandi
• Rahu

FAQs

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

It highlights reverent approach: even powerful beings like Rāhu enter sacred Shaiva spaces only through Shiva’s ordained attendant (Nandin), symbolizing humility, discipline, and receptivity before divine authority (Pati).

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the scene reflects Saguna Shiva’s sacred order—access to Shiva’s presence and grace is mediated through devotion, proper conduct, and the guardianship of Shiva’s gaṇas, with Nandi as the foremost emblem of devoted attendance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a Nandi-bhāva of attentive surrender before worship: begin with respectful invocation (e.g., mentally bow to Nandi and Shiva), steady the gaze and mind, and repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility before entering japa or pūjā.