Shloka 25

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

सर्वांगसुन्दरः श्रीमान्पुरुषः कृष्णदर्शनः । भावं समीक्षितुं भागं दातुं ज्ञानं परं च तत्

Transliteration

sarvāṃgasundaraḥ śrīmānpuruṣaḥ kṛṣṇadarśanaḥ | bhāvaṃ samīkṣituṃ bhāgaṃ dātuṃ jñānaṃ paraṃ ca tat

Translation

He was a splendid and auspicious person, beautiful in every limb, dark-hued in appearance—one who could discern the inner bhāva, bestow the fitting share, and impart that highest knowledge.

Word by Word

• sarva-aṅga-sundaraḥ: beautiful in every limb
• sarva-aṅga-sundaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + sundara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'beautiful in all limbs'

• śrīmān: splendid/fortunate
• śrīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; possessive adjective (मतुप्)

• puruṣaḥ: man/person
• puruṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• kṛṣṇa-darśanaḥ: dark-looking
• kṛṣṇa-darśanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṛṣṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'having a dark appearance/vision'

• bhāvam: intention/state of mind
• bhāvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• samīkṣitum: to examine
• samīkṣitum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (ईक्ष् धातु) + sam- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to examine/observe'

• bhāgam: share/portion
• bhāgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dātum: to give
• dātum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु)
• Form: Infinitive (तुमुन्), 'to give'

• jñānam: knowledge
• jñānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with jñānam

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun referring to the matter/that (act/thing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s (or Shiva’s empowered manifestation’s) capacity to see the devotee’s inner bhāva and to grant the fitting fruit—culminating in para-jñāna, the liberating knowledge that leads toward moksha by Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

In Saguna worship (including Linga worship), the devotee offers external rites, but Shiva responds to the inner intention (bhāva). This verse underscores that the true measure of worship is inward devotion, which Shiva perceives and rewards appropriately.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate pure bhāva while doing japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-pūjā; the teaching implies that sincere inner devotion is what enables Shiva’s bestowal of higher knowledge.