Shloka 9

शिवलोकप्रवेशः

Entry into Śivaloka through successive gateways

Devanagari script

एवं पंचदशद्वारान्प्रविश्य कमलोद्भवः । महाद्वारं गतस्तत्र नन्दिनं प्रददर्श ह

Transliteration

evaṃ paṃcadaśadvārānpraviśya kamalodbhavaḥ | mahādvāraṃ gatastatra nandinaṃ pradadarśa ha

Translation

Thus Kamalodbhava (Brahmā), having passed through the fifteen gateways, came to the great main gate; there he beheld Nandin standing as the guardian of Śiva’s abode.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारार्थक (thus/in this manner)

• पञ्चदश: fifteen
• पञ्चदश: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चदश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे विशेषणम्; समासः—द्विगु (पञ्च + दश = fifteen)

• द्वारान्: gates
• द्वारान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having entered’

• कमलोद्भवः: the lotus-born (Brahmā)
• कमलोद्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कमल + उद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (कमलात् उद्भवः = lotus-born)

• महाद्वारम्: the great gate
• महाद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महā + द्वार)

• गतः: having reached
• गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (having gone/reached)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (there)

• नन्दिनम्: Nandin
• नन्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रददर्श: saw/beheld
• प्रददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/it is said)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Nandi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that access to Śiva’s domain is approached through order, reverence, and proper entry—symbolizing disciplined spiritual progress and the necessity of honoring Śiva’s attendants and devotees who embody dharma and devotion.

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

Nandin, as Śiva’s foremost attendant, represents the devotional gateway to Saguna Śiva. The scene implies that one approaches the Lord (often worshiped as the Liṅga) through bhakti, proper conduct, and respect for Śiva’s sacred retinue and traditions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin worship with reverence to Śiva’s gaṇas—especially Nandi—followed by mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined entry into worship with purity and humility.