Shloka 46

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

श्राद्धदेवोऽपि शुद्धात्मा नतकस्साञ्जलिस्सुधीः । तुष्टाव तं प्रभुं नत्वा स्वापराधं क्षमापयत्

Transliteration

śrāddhadevo'pi śuddhātmā natakassāñjalissudhīḥ | tuṣṭāva taṃ prabhuṃ natvā svāparādhaṃ kṣamāpayat

Translation

Then Śrāddhadeva too—pure in heart and wise—bowed with joined palms. After prostrating to that Lord, he praised Him and sought forgiveness for his own offence.

Word by Word

• श्राद्धदेवः: Śrāddhadeva (proper name)
• श्राद्धदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्राद्धदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; विशेष-नाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle: also/too)

• शुद्धात्मा: pure-souled
• शुद्धात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (शुद्धः आत्मा); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; विशेषण

• नतकः: the bowed one / one who bowed
• नतकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नतक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; (अर्थतः ‘नतः’ = bowed)

• साञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• साञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह अञ्जलिः/अञ्जलिं कृत्वा); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण

• सुधीः: the wise one
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन; (धी-प्रातिपदिक)

• तुष्टाव: praised
• तुष्टाव: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √स्तु

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• प्रभुम्: the Lord
• प्रभुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• नत्वा: having bowed
• नत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु) → नत्वा
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive); √नम् (to bow)

• स्वापराधम्: his own offense
• स्वापराधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-अपराध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वस्य अपराधः); पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• क्षमापयत्: begged forgiveness / caused (it) to be forgiven
• क्षमापयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षम् (धातु) (causative)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोजक (causative) ‘क्षमापयति’ = causes to forgive/asks forgiveness

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śrāddhadeva

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva path of grace: the devotee approaches Pati (Lord Shiva) with humility (namaskara), devotion (stuti), and repentance (kṣamā-yācñā), showing that inner purification and surrender open the way for Shiva’s compassion.

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

The verse models the proper inner posture for Saguna Shiva worship—approaching the Lord with añjali, prostration, and praise—before requesting pardon; this is the devotional etiquette commonly observed in Linga-pūjā and temple worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is implied: begin Shiva worship with añjali and namaskara, recite a short stotra, and consciously ask forgiveness for mistakes in thought, word, and deed—often paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” before concluding the pūjā.