Shloka 38

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

क्षमापय स्वापराधं सुप्रणम्य स्तुतिं कुरु । सर्वप्रभुस्स एवेशो यज्ञाधीशोऽखिलेश्वरः

Transliteration

kṣamāpaya svāparādhaṃ supraṇamya stutiṃ kuru | sarvaprabhussa eveśo yajñādhīśo'khileśvaraḥ

Translation

Beg forgiveness for your own offense; bow down properly and offer praise. He alone is the Lord of all masters—the Supreme Ruler, the presiding Lord of sacrifice (yajña), and the Sovereign of the entire universe.

Word by Word

• क्षमापय: forgive (cause to forgive)
• क्षमापय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षमापय (धातु-प्रयोग; √क्षम + णिच्)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• स्व-अपराधम्: one's own offense
• स्व-अपराधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अपराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• सु-प्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सु-प्रणम्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (Ktvā/Absolutive) with उपसर्ग सु-
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), क्रियाविशेषणभाव (adverbial)

• स्तुतिम्: praise, hymn
• स्तुतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• कुरु: do, perform
• कुरु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• सर्व-प्रभुः: lord of all
• सर्व-प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निश्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle/emphatic)

• ईशः: Lord
• ईशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• यज्ञ-अधीशः: lord of sacrifices
• यज्ञ-अधीशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अखिल-ईश्वरः: the all-universal Lord
• अखिल-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s supremacy and the proper attitude of repentance and praise)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes the core pilgrimage ethic: aparādha-kṣamā (seeking forgiveness), praṇāma, and stuti as the means to receive prasāda from the universal Īśa and yajñādhipati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva Siddhanta attitude of śaraṇāgati: acknowledge one’s fault, seek kṣamā (grace), bow with humility, and praise Pati (Shiva), the universal Lord who alone can loosen pāśa (bondage) and bestow liberation.

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

The instruction to bow and offer stuti aligns with Saguna Shiva worship through the Linga—approaching Shiva as the compassionate Īśvara who receives repentance, accepts devotion, and grants purification through ritual and heartfelt praise.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform praṇāma (prostration) before Shiva/Linga, recite Shiva-stuti and the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with repentance, and offer worship as to Yajñādhipa—Shiva, the inner Lord of all sacred rites.