Shloka 32

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । तदाकर्ण्य वचस्तस्य नभगो मानवः कविः । आगच्छत्पितरं प्रीत्या तदुक्तं पृष्टवान्मुने

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | tadākarṇya vacastasya nabhago mānavaḥ kaviḥ | āgacchatpitaraṃ prītyā taduktaṃ pṛṣṭavānmune

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Hearing his words, Nabhaga—descendant of Manu and a poet-sage—approached his father with affection and then asked the muni about what had been spoken.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (नन्दीश्वर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ākarṇya: having heard
• ākarṇya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√kṛṇ/karṇ (आ + कर्ण्/श्रु-समर्थ धात्वर्थ; ‘to hear’)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्), ‘having heard’

• vacaḥ: words/speech
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (वचस् प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tasya: of him/of that (person)
• tasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध; of)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• nabhagaḥ: Nabhaga
• nabhagaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhaga (नभग प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mānavaḥ: the descendant of Manu
• mānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mānava (मानव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); patronymic/descendant sense

• kaviḥ: sage/poet
• kaviḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (कवि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• āgacchat: came/approached
• āgacchat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√gam (आ + गम् धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• pitaram: (his) father
• pitaram: Karma (कर्म; whom he approached)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (पितृ प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण; with/out of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रीति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uktam: said/spoken
• uktam: Karma (कर्म; ‘that which was said’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pṛṣṭavān: asked (having asked)
• pṛṣṭavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (प्रच्छ् धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (मुनि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Nandīśvara (Nandi)
• Nabhaga
• Manu
• Father of Nabhaga

FAQs

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

It highlights a Shaiva virtue: true understanding begins with attentive listening (śravaṇa) and humble inquiry (praśna). Such reverent questioning, grounded in affection and respect for elders and sages, becomes a doorway to Shiva-centered wisdom.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it models the proper approach to Saguna Shiva worship as taught in the Purana—receive instruction from an authorized lineage, listen carefully, and seek clarity. Linga-upāsanā is traditionally learned through such disciplined transmission rather than mere opinion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa–manana: first listen to Shaiva teachings, then reflect and ask precise questions. Practically, one may pair this with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while studying the Purana under guidance.