Shloka 49

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

अथ रुद्रः प्रसन्नात्मा कृपादृष्ट्या विलोक्य तान् । उवाच नभगं प्रीत्या सस्मितं कृष्णदर्शनः

Transliteration

atha rudraḥ prasannātmā kṛpādṛṣṭyā vilokya tān | uvāca nabhagaṃ prītyā sasmitaṃ kṛṣṇadarśanaḥ

Translation

Then Rudra—his heart appeased—looked upon them with a compassionate gaze. With affection he spoke to Nabhaga, smiling gently, the dark-hued Lord whose very sight grants grace.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (अनन्तर/sequence particle)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रसन्नात्मा: of serene nature
• प्रसन्नात्मा: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्नात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक; प्रसन्न + आत्मन्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य)

• कृपादृष्ट्या: with a compassionate glance
• कृपादृष्ट्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपादृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक; कृपा + दृष्टि)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (कृपायाः दृष्ट्या)

• विलोक्य: having looked at
• विलोक्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल; उपसर्गः वि-

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• नभगम्: Nabhaga (name)
• नभगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सस्मितम्: smilingly / with a smile
• सस्मितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सस्मित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from स्मि)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गम्, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• कृष्णदर्शनः: dark in appearance
• कृष्णदर्शनः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्णदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक; कृष्ण + दर्शन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः (कृष्णं दर्शनं यस्य = whose appearance/vision is dark)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Darśana of Rudra with ‘kṛpādṛṣṭi’ (gracious glance) is itself salvific in Siddhānta idiom—grace initiates the loosening of pāśa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

The verse highlights kṛpā (divine grace): when Rudra is pleased, his compassionate glance and gentle speech become the means by which the devotee is uplifted—an important Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis on grace (anugraha) as the turning point toward liberation.

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

It presents Saguna Shiva—Rudra with qualities like compassion and a reassuring smile—showing that devotion to Shiva’s manifest form (including Linga-worship) is a direct relationship where the Lord responds with anugraha, guiding the seeker through word and presence (darshana).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Shiva’s compassionate darshana while repeating the Panchakshara ("Om Namah Shivaya"), cultivating humility and receptivity to grace—supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhuti (Tripundra) and steady bhakti.