Shloka 26

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

अथो स शंकरः शम्भुः परीक्षाकर ईश्वरः । उवाचोत्तरतोऽभ्येत्य नभगं तं हि मानवम्

Transliteration

atho sa śaṃkaraḥ śambhuḥ parīkṣākara īśvaraḥ | uvācottarato'bhyetya nabhagaṃ taṃ hi mānavam

Translation

Then that Lord—Śaṅkara, Śambhu, the Supreme Īśvara who tests beings—approached Nabha ga from the north and spoke to that man.

Word by Word

• atho: then indeed
• atho: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय) + u (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात); atha + u = 'then indeed'

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• śaṃkaraḥ: Śaṅkara
• śaṃkaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śambhuḥ: Śambhu
• śambhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to śaṃkaraḥ

• parīkṣā-karaḥ: tester/examiner
• parīkṣā-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parīkṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'one who performs a test/examination'

• īśvaraḥ: the Lord
• īśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada

• uttarataḥ: from the north/northwards
• uttarataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uttaratas (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (दिशावाचक-अव्यय)

• abhyetya: having approached
• abhyetya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √i (इ धातु) + abhi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), 'having approached/come near'

• nabhagam: Nabhaga
• nabhagam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper name

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; refers to nabhagam

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात) expressing emphasis/causal nuance

• mānavam: the man
• mānavam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; apposition to tam

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Shankara/Shambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as Parīkṣākara Īśvara—the Lord who tests—showing that trials are a compassionate means by which Pati (Shiva) refines the pashu (individual soul) and reveals steadfast devotion and readiness for grace.

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

By naming Shiva as Śaṅkara and Śambhu and depicting him personally approaching the devotee, the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva—accessible and responsive—who meets the seeker in lived experience, a key devotional attitude also expressed in Linga worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to maintain steady japa and devotion during testing—especially Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—with a disciplined, humble mindset, as Shiva’s “test” is meant to mature surrender rather than provoke fear.