Shloka 24

नभगोपाख्यानम्

Nabhaga-Upākhyāna: The Account of Nabhaga and Shiva-Jñāna

Devanagari script

तत्तदा स्वीकरिष्यंतं सुसत्रपरिशेषितम् । विज्ञाय गिरिशः सद्य आविर्भूत सदूतिकृत्

Transliteration

tattadā svīkariṣyaṃtaṃ susatrapariśeṣitam | vijñāya giriśaḥ sadya āvirbhūta sadūtikṛt

Translation

Knowing that the devotee was then about to accept what remained after the sacrifice had been duly performed, Girīśa (Lord Śiva) at once manifested, taking upon Himself the role of a messenger.

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun used adverbially = 'then/that'

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• svīkariṣyantam: (one) about to accept
• svīkariṣyantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) + svi- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: Future active participle (भविष्यत्-कृदन्त/शतृ), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Masculine, Singular; 'about to accept'

• su-satra-pariśeṣitam: well-remaining/left over after the rite (satra)
• su-satra-pariśeṣitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + satra (प्रातिपदिक) + pariśeṣita (√śiṣ/√śas?; शेषित कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; compound adjective qualifying the previous accusative; components: su + satra + pariśeṣita

• vijñāya: having understood
• vijñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (ज्ञा धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), 'having known/understood'

• giriśaḥ: Giriśa (Lord of mountains)
• giriśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: giriśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet of Śiva

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (कालवाचक-अव्यय)

• āvirbhūtaḥ: appeared
• āvirbhūtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āvirbhūta (√bhū धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; used predicatively = 'appeared/manifested'

• sa-dūti-kṛt: (he who) appointed a female messenger
• sa-dūti-kṛt: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सम्-भाव) + dūtī (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound epithet: 'one who made/appointed a female messenger'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the Lord) who responds immediately to sincere devotion, transcending ritual formality and personally guiding the devotee for their highest good.

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

Śiva’s “manifesting” highlights Saguna grace—when devotion ripens, the Lord becomes perceptible and intervenes, just as Linga-worship invites the formless Reality to be approached through a sacred, tangible form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform worship with inner surrender—offer actions and their “remnants” to Śiva mentally (īśvarārpaṇa-buddhi), and support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple daily Shiva-pūjā.