Shloka 33

अवधूतेश्वरलीला (Avadhūteśvara-līlā) — Śiva Tests Indra’s Pride on the Way to Kailāsa

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तो गुरुणा रुद्रो भक्तवत्सलनामभाक् । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा सुरेज्यम्प्रणतार्तिहा

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityukto guruṇā rudro bhaktavatsalanāmabhāk | pratyuvāca prasannātmā surejyampraṇatārtihā

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus addressed by his guru, Rudra—renowned as “the tender guardian of devotees”—replied with a serene heart. He is the One worshipped by the gods, and the remover of the distress of those who bow to him.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• uktaḥ: having been addressed/said to
• uktaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → ukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• guruṇā: by the teacher
• guruṇā: Karaṇa (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• rudraḥ: Rudra
• rudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhakta-vatsala-nāma-bhāk: bearing the name 'devotee-loving'
• bhakta-vatsala-nāma-bhāk: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhakta (प्रातिपदिक) + vatsala (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāj (धातु) → bhāk (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: nāma + bhāk ('bearing the name'); whole qualifies rudraḥ

• pratyuvāca: replied
• pratyuvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + prati (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• prasanna-ātmā: with a serene mind
• prasanna-ātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारयः; qualifies rudraḥ

• sura-ijyam-praṇata-ārti-hā: worshipped by gods, remover of devotees’ distress
• sura-ijyam-praṇata-ārti-hā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + ijya (प्रातिपदिक) + praṇata (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + ārti (प्रातिपदिक) + han (धातु) → hā (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); बहुव्रीहिः—'he whose (nature is) remover (hā) of the distress (ārti) of the bowed (praṇata) and worshipped by gods (sura-ijya)'

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Rudra
• Devas

FAQs

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

It establishes Rudra as bhaktavatsala—one whose nature is grace toward devotees—showing that sincere surrender (praṇāma) draws Shiva’s compassionate response and removal of inner distress, a core Shaiva path to liberation.

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

By describing Rudra as ‘worshipped by the gods’ and responsive to devotees, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through reverence, prayer, and ritual (including Linga worship) to receive his anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is praṇāma and bhakti: bowing with humility while remembering Shiva as bhaktavatsala; this can be paired with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a devotion-centered discipline.