Shloka 3

शिवस्य पञ्चब्रह्मावतारवर्णनम्

Description of Shiva’s Pañcabrahma Avatāras

Devanagari script

एतत्पृष्टः पुरा नन्दी शिवमूर्तिस्सतां गतिः । सनत्कुमारेण मुने तमुवाच शिवं स्मरन्

Transliteration

etatpṛṣṭaḥ purā nandī śivamūrtissatāṃ gatiḥ | sanatkumāreṇa mune tamuvāca śivaṃ smaran

Translation

Formerly, when the sage Sanatkumāra asked him this, Nandī—who embodies Śiva and is the refuge and goal of the righteous—replied while remembering Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• etat: this (question/matter)
• etat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• pṛṣṭaḥ: having been asked
• pṛṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prach (धातु)
• Form: निष्ठान्त (Past Passive Participle, क्त), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः ‘having been asked’

• purā: formerly
• purā: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: purā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (adverb: formerly)

• nandī: Nandī
• nandī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• śiva-mūrtiḥ: the embodiment/form of Śiva
• śiva-mūrtiḥ: Apposition (विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + mūrti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śivasya mūrtiḥ)

• satām: of the virtuous
• satām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘of the good/saints’

• gatiḥ: refuge/goal
• gatiḥ: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• sanat-kumāreṇa: by Sanatkumāra
• sanat-kumāreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanatkumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), एकवचनम्

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• smaran: remembering
• smaran: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √smṛ (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present Active Participle), प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्, पुंलिङ्गम्; ‘remembering’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the prior dialogue of Nandi and Sanatkumara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; highlights Nandī as ‘śivamūrti’ and ‘satāṃ gatiḥ’, establishing a devotional conduit: remembrance of Śiva empowers right teaching.

Significance: Nandī-darśana and Nandī-sevā in Śiva temples is traditionally held to steady the mind for Śiva-smaraṇa; this verse doctrinally supports Nandī as a gateway to Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It establishes that true teaching about Śiva arises from Shiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva) and from a purified devotee like Nandī, who is presented as the saints’ refuge and goal—pointing to liberation through devotion aligned with right knowledge.

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

By calling Nandī “Śivamūrti,” the verse emphasizes Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through manifest forms and devoted attendants; such remembrance supports Linga-worship and katha as living means to connect with Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is Shiva-smaraṇa alongside japa—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—so that speech, study, and worship are grounded in continuous recollection of Śiva.