Shloka 44

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

अजानता मया नाथ यदुक्तन्तद्वचो भ्रमात् । अपराधन्त्वं क्षमस्व शिरसा त्वां प्रसादये

Transliteration

ajānatā mayā nātha yaduktantadvaco bhramāt | aparādhantvaṃ kṣamasva śirasā tvāṃ prasādaye

Translation

O Lord, in ignorance I spoke those words in delusion. Please forgive this offense; bowing my head, I seek to propitiate You and obtain Your grace.

Word by Word

• अजानता: unknowingly
• अजानता: करण (Karaṇa/Instrumental of attendant circumstance)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-√ज्ञा (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमानकृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त — 'not knowing'

• मया: by me
• मया: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नाथ: O Lord
• नाथ: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• यत्: whatever/that which
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• उक्तम्: said/uttered
• उक्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle) — 'said'

• तत्: that
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• वचः: speech/word
• वचः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• भ्रमात्: from delusion/by mistake
• भ्रमात्: हेतु (Hetu/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन

• अपराधम्: offence
• अपराधम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• क्षमस्व: forgive
• क्षमस्व: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √क्षम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• शिरसा: with (my) head; by bowing
• शिरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• त्वाम्: you
• त्वाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रसादये: I propitiate/seek to please
• प्रसादये: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√सद् (धातु) + णिच्
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिजन्त (causative) — 'I propitiate/please'

Speaker

A devotee/supplicant addressing Lord Shiva (within Suta Goswami’s narration in the Śiva Purāṇa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches aparādha-bodha (recognizing one’s fault) and kṣamā-yācñā (seeking forgiveness) as essential acts of bhakti—humility and surrender that open the devotee to Shiva’s anugraha (grace), central to Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

The verse models personal approach to Saguna Shiva—confessing error and bowing the head—an attitude commonly expressed before the Śiva-liṅga during pūjā, where the devotee seeks prasāda and purification through Shiva’s compassionate acceptance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple prayāścitta-bhāva: offer namaskāra/prostration, verbally ask forgiveness, and repeat Shiva’s name (e.g., the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a repentant, steady mind.