Shloka 57

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

इत्थन्ते कीर्तितो ब्रह्मन्नवतारः शिवस्य हि । कृष्णदर्शननामा वै नभगानन्ददायकः

Transliteration

itthante kīrtito brahmannavatāraḥ śivasya hi | kṛṣṇadarśananāmā vai nabhagānandadāyakaḥ

Translation

Thus, O Brahman, the incarnation of Lord Śiva has been described to you—indeed, the one named “Kṛṣṇadarśana,” who bestows joy upon Nabhaga.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (to you)

• कीर्तितः: has been described
• कीर्तितः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कीर्त् (धातु) → कीर्तित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahmin
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• अवतारः: incarnation
• अवतारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed/for)

• कृष्ण-दर्शन-नामा: named ‘Kṛṣṇa-darśana’
• कृष्ण-दर्शन-नामा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (whose name is ‘Kṛṣṇa-darśana’)

• वै: verily
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक निपात (indeed/verily)

• नभः-ग-आनन्द-दायकः: giver of joy to the sky-goers (celestials)
• नभः-ग-आनन्द-दायकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + ग (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + दायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः (नभोगः = नभसि गच्छति इति/नभःगः ‘sky-goer’; तस्य आनन्दः; तस्य दायकः) तत्पुरुष-प्रधानः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; this verse is a colophon-like closure to an avatāra-kathā, naming Śiva’s descent ‘Kṛṣṇadarśana’ and its boon to Nabhaga.

Significance: Śravaṇa/paṭhana of avatāra-kathā is framed as merit-bearing and grace-invoking (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Śiva’s avatāras are compassionate manifestations (saguṇa grace) meant to uplift devotees—here, specifically bringing ānanda (spiritual joy and relief) to Nabhaga.

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

By naming a specific avatāra, the verse supports saguṇa-upāsanā—devotees may approach Śiva through accessible forms and narratives while recognizing the same Supreme Lord who is also worshiped as the Liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa (remembrance of Śiva’s names and forms) with devotion—reciting Śiva’s names alongside the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a bhakti-based meditation.