Shloka 19

Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā

The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति तां नवरत्नाढ्ये सस्पृहां करभूषणे । वीक्ष्योदारमतिर्वैश्यः सस्मितं समभाषत

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti tāṃ navaratnāḍhye saspṛhāṃ karabhūṣaṇe | vīkṣyodāramatirvaiśyaḥ sasmitaṃ samabhāṣata

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus, seeing that she was adorned with navaratna—nine kinds of gems—and richly ornamented, the magnanimous-minded Vaiśya, filled with longing, smiled and spoke.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative/particle)

• ताम्: her/that (woman)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नव-रत्न-आढ्ये: in/with (something) rich in nine gems
• नव-रत्न-आढ्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक) + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण; (locative: 'in/with the ...')

• स-स्पृहाम्: desirous/longing
• स-स्पृहाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पृहा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपसर्गसदृश 'स-' = 'with'; विशेषण (describing ताम्)

• कर-भूषणे: in the hand-ornament (bracelet)
• कर-भूषणे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ('ornament of the hand')

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययीभावरूप (gerund/absolutive); 'having seen'

• उदार-मतिḥ: noble-minded
• उदार-मतिḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदार (प्रातिपदिक) + मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय ('noble-minded'); विशेषण

• वैश्यः: the vaiśya (merchant)
• वैश्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स-स्मितम्: smilingly
• स-स्मितम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावप्रयोग (adverbial accusative): 'with a smile/smilingly'

• सम्-अभाषत: spoke
• सम्-अभाषत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; उपसर्ग: सम्

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara (Nandi)

FAQs

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

It shows how perception of external splendor can stir longing, setting the stage for a dharmic test; Shaiva teaching emphasizes mastering such impulses and turning the mind toward Shiva (Pati) rather than being bound by pasha (attachments).

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

Though narrative in tone, it contrasts outward ornamentation with the inner orientation praised in Saguna Shiva worship—where beauty and wealth are offered to Shiva as seva, not clung to as objects of craving.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint supported by japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering one’s desires into Shiva-bhakti, so longing is purified into devotion.