Shloka 50

Viśvānara-Gṛhapati Upākhyāna — Śivasya Agni-gṛhe Avatāraḥ

The Account of Viśvānara Gṛhapati and Śiva’s Descent into the House of Fire

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । स्तुत्वेति विप्रो निपपात भूमौ संबद्धपाणिर्भवतीह यावत् । तावत्स बालोऽरिबलवृद्धवृद्धः प्रोवाच भूदेवमतीव हृष्टः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | stutveti vipro nipapāta bhūmau saṃbaddhapāṇirbhavatīha yāvat | tāvatsa bālo'ribalavṛddhavṛddhaḥ provāca bhūdevamatīva hṛṣṭaḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara said: When the brāhmaṇa, with palms joined, fell upon the earth saying, “I shall praise (Him),” at that very moment the boy—mature beyond measure and strengthened with irresistible power—spoke to the brāhmaṇa, exceedingly delighted.

Word by Word

नन्दीश्वरःNandīśvara

उवाचsaid

स्तुत्वाhaving praised

इतिthus

विप्रःthe brāhmaṇa

निपपातfell down

भूमौon the ground

संबद्ध-पाणिःwith joined hands

भवतिis/continues

इहhere

यावत्as long as/until

तावत्so long/then

सःhe

बालःthe boy

अरि-बल-वृद्ध-वृद्धःwhose hostile strength was greatly increased / very powerful against enemies

प्रोवाचsaid/spoke

भूदेवम्to the brāhmaṇa

अतीवexceedingly

हृष्टःdelighted

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the Siddhānta devotional arc: paśu (devotee/brāhmaṇa) performs śaraṇāgati and stuti; Pati responds through anugraha, appearing in accessible form (bāla) and initiating boon-bestowal.

Characters & Entities

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Brāhmaṇa (Vipra)

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva path of humility (prostration with joined palms) and stuti as a doorway to anugraha (divine grace), where the devotee’s surrender immediately evokes a compassionate response.

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

The verse depicts Saguna Shiva’s accessible grace through a manifest form (the “boy”), showing that heartfelt praise and reverence can draw the Lord’s presence and guidance even before formal ritual is completed.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice añjali (joined palms), namaskāra/prostration, and Shiva-stuti with a concentrated mind; as a simple Shaiva discipline, pair it with mental japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to cultivate receptivity to grace.