Shloka 5

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

नभगो मनुपुत्रस्तु पठनार्थं सुबुद्धि मान् । चक्रे गुरुकुले वासं बहुकालं जितेन्द्रियः

Transliteration

nabhago manuputrastu paṭhanārthaṃ subuddhi mān | cakre gurukule vāsaṃ bahukālaṃ jitendriyaḥ

Translation

Nabhaga, the son of Manu—highly intelligent and intent on study—lived for a long time in the teacher’s household, dwelling there with disciplined senses.

Word by Word

• नभगः: Nabhaga
• नभगः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनुपुत्रः: son of Manu
• मनुपुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘मनु-स्य पुत्रः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• पठनार्थम्: for the purpose of study/recitation
• पठनार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पठन + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थक (purpose): ‘पठनस्य अर्थम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थ (for the purpose)

• सुबुद्धिमान्: intelligent, of good understanding
• सुबुद्धिमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + बुद्धि + मत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/उपसर्गपूर्वक: ‘सु-बुद्धिः यस्य सः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चक्रे: did/made
• चक्रे: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• गुरुकुले: in the teacher’s house (gurukula)
• गुरुकुले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरुकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘गुरोः कुलम्’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• वासम्: residence/dwelling
• वासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• बहुकालम्: for a long time
• बहुकालम्: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण/Time duration)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहु + काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘बहुः कालः’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कालावधि (duration)

• जितेन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जितेन्द्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जि (धातु) → जित (कृदन्त, क्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: ‘जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Nabhaga
• Manu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the Shaiva foundation of sadhana: disciplined study, humility in the guru’s care, and mastery over the senses (jitendriya). Such inner restraint purifies the pashu (bound soul) and makes it fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha), which is central to liberation.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the verse sets the prerequisite for authentic Saguna Shiva worship: purity of conduct, obedience to dharma, and controlled senses. In Shaiva practice, outer rites to the Linga gain power when supported by inner brahmacharya and disciplined learning.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is brahmacharya with indriya-nigraha (sense-restraint) alongside svadhyaya (scriptural study). As a Shaiva takeaway, one may pair daily study with japa of “Om Namah Shivaya” and a simple, disciplined routine to steady the mind.