Shloka 11

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति पृष्ठस्तदा तैस्तु श्रीकृष्णः पाण्डवैर्मुने । स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्भोजौ पाण्डवानिदमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | iti pṛṣṭhastadā taistu śrīkṛṣṇaḥ pāṇḍavairmune | smṛtvā śivapadāmbhojau pāṇḍavānidamabravīt

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus questioned by the Pāṇḍavas at that time, O sage, Śrī Kṛṣṇa—having recalled in his heart the lotus-feet of Lord Śiva—spoke these words to the Pāṇḍavas.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (उक्तिसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• पृष्टः: having been asked
• पृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृष्ट (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (पृच्छ् धातोः क्त)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (then)

• तैः: by them
• तैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• श्री-कृष्णः: Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• श्री-कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (श्रीमान् कृष्णः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाण्डवैः: by the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriyā-samānādhikaraṇa (पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), धातु: स्मृ, अर्थ: स्मरणं कृत्वा

• शिव-पद-अम्भोजौ: Shiva’s lotus-feet (two)
• शिव-पद-अम्भोजौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्भोज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘शिवस्य पदाम्भोजौ’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन

• पाण्डवान्: the Pāṇḍavas
• पाण्डवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said/spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandī)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Krishna
• Pandavas
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It shows the ideal Shaiva attitude: before giving guidance, one inwardly takes refuge in Śiva’s lotus-feet, affirming Śiva as the supreme Pati whose grace steadies speech and understanding.

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

Remembering Śiva’s “lotus-feet” is a Saguna focus—devotional contemplation on a sacred form—akin to mentally worshipping the Śiva-liṅga before speaking, acting, or beginning any rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice smaraṇa: begin counsel or study with a brief inward remembrance of Śiva—optionally with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and a moment of reverence as if bowing at the Lord’s feet.