Shloka 28

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । तच्छुत्वा तद्वचस्तात मानवो नभगः कवि । प्रत्युवाच विनीतात्मा पुरुषं कृष्णदर्शनम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | tacchutvā tadvacastāta mānavo nabhagaḥ kavi | pratyuvāca vinītātmā puruṣaṃ kṛṣṇadarśanam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: “Beloved one, having heard those words, the human Nabhaga—wise and inspired, a kavi—humbly replied to that Person whose appearance was dark-hued.”

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्दिनः ईश्वरः = lord of Nandin)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उवाच (लिट्-रूप, परस्मैपद)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma/Object) (श्रुत्वा-क्रियायाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त/absolutive)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund): पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifier) वचः इति

• वचः: speech, words
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object) (प्रत्युवाच-क्रियायाः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तात: O dear one / O father
• तात: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• मानवः: the man
• मानवः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• नभगः: Nabhaga
• नभगः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (मानवस्य विशेषण/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); व्यक्तिनाम (proper name)

• कविः: sage, poet
• कविः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु) → प्रत्युवाच (लिट्-रूप)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• विनीतात्मा: humble-souled
• विनीतात्मा: विशेषण (Qualifier) (मानवस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि (विनीतः आत्मा यस्य सः = one whose self is humble)

• पुरुषम्: man, person
• पुरुषम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• कृष्णदर्शनम्: dark-looking (black in appearance)
• कृष्णदर्शनम्: विशेषण (Qualifier) (पुरुषम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक); समासः
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय (कृष्णं दर्शनं यस्य/यत् = having dark appearance/vision); पुरुषम् इति विशेषण

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Nandīśvara (Nandin)
• Nabhaga
• Puruṣa (divine person, dark-hued)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights vinaya (humility) as a Shaiva virtue: after receiving instruction, the seeker responds with a disciplined, reverent mind—an inner qualification for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the narrative mood is devotional and dialogic: the devotee’s humble reply to a manifest divine presence (saguṇa encounter) reflects the attitude recommended in Shiva worship—listening (śravaṇa) and obedient response.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It implies śravaṇa and manana—hearing sacred teaching and reflecting before speaking—supported in Shaiva practice by japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a humble, restrained mind.