Shloka 8

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

स पश्चादागतस्तत्र ब्रह्मचारी गुरुस्थलात् । नभगोऽधीत्य सर्वाश्च सांगोपांगाः श्रुतीः क्रमात्

Transliteration

sa paścādāgatastatra brahmacārī gurusthalāt | nabhago'dhītya sarvāśca sāṃgopāṃgāḥ śrutīḥ kramāt

Translation

Afterwards, that brahmacārin returned there from the dwelling of his preceptor. Nabhāga, having duly studied in proper sequence all the Vedic revelations together with their ancillary and subsidiary disciplines, came back fully trained.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• पश्चात्: afterwards
• पश्चात्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पश्चात् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्ययम् (temporal adverb)

• आगतः: having come / came
• आगतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि/भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्तः (past participle), पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having come/come’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: there)

• ब्रह्मचारी: the brahmacārin (celibate student)
• ब्रह्मचारी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मचारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम्

• गुरुस्थलात्: from the teacher’s place
• गुरुस्थलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु-स्थल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: गुरोः स्थलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्गः, पञ्चमी-विभक्तिः (Ablative/5th), एकवचनम्

• नभगः: Nabhaga
• नभगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् (proper noun)

• अधीत्य: having studied
• अधीत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि-इ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त-अव्ययकृदन्तम् (gerund/absolutive), ‘having studied’

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्ययम् (conjunction)

• साङ्गोपाङ्गाः: with all auxiliaries (limbs and sub-limbs)
• साङ्गोपाङ्गाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-अङ्ग-उपाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (अङ्ग + उपाङ्ग; ‘with limbs and sub-limbs’), बहुव्रीहिवत् विशेषण-प्रयोगः; स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया, बहुवचनम् (श्रुतीः इति विशेष्यस्य)

• श्रुतीः: Vedic texts / śrutis
• श्रुतीः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचनम्

• क्रमात्: in order, successively
• क्रमात्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-एकवचनान्त-निपातितम् अव्ययीभावार्थे (instrumental used adverbially): ‘in due order/gradually’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

It highlights brahmacarya and disciplined śruti-study under a guru as the foundation for purity (śuddhi) and right knowledge—preparing the seeker to recognize Pati (Śiva) as the supreme liberator beyond bondage.

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

Though the verse speaks of Vedic training, such preparation traditionally culminates in correct ritual understanding and inner eligibility for Śiva-upāsanā—approaching Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga worship) with scriptural clarity and devotion rather than mere habit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is daily disciplined sādhanā: guru-guided recitation/study, regulated conduct (brahmacarya), and orderly practice—often complemented in Shaiva tradition by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and purity observances.