Shloka 9

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

Protocol of Tapas, Mantra-Japa, and Śiva-Dhyāna

Devanagari script

नंदीश्वर उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा शंभुवचनन्निश्चयं परमं गताः । परावृत्य गताः सर्वे स्वस्वथानं ते हि निर्जराः

Transliteration

naṃdīśvara uvāca | tacchrutvā śaṃbhuvacananniścayaṃ paramaṃ gatāḥ | parāvṛtya gatāḥ sarve svasvathānaṃ te hi nirjarāḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Having heard Śambhu’s words, those deathless beings attained the highest resolve. Then, turning back, they all departed to their respective abodes—for they were indeed the immortals.

Word by Word

• naṃdīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• naṃdīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naṃdīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative used with implied object (vākyaṃ/vacanam)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), ‘having heard’

• śaṃbhu-vacanam: Śambhu’s statement
• śaṃbhu-vacanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃbhu (प्रातिपदिक) + vacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa-samāsa (‘Śambhu’s words’)

• niścayam: certainty/decision
• niścayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niścaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• paramam: supreme/firm
• paramam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies niścayam

• gatāḥ: (they) attained/reached
• gatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle (क्त; past passive participle) used as finite sense; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• parā-vṛtya: having returned
• parā-vṛtya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vṛt (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त) with prefix parā-; ‘having turned back’

• gatāḥ: went
• gatāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: Kta-participle; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; qualifies te/nirjarāḥ

• sva-sva-sthānam: to their respective places
• sva-sva-sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sva (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; tatpuruṣa-samāsa (‘each one’s own place’)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; pronoun

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, particle (निपात) giving emphasis/causal nuance

• nirjarāḥ: the gods (deathless ones)
• nirjarāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Bahuvacana; apposition to te

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi), Shiva’s chief gaṇa and attendant

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shambhu
• Nandi
• Nirjaras (immortal beings/devas)

FAQs

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

It highlights śravaṇa (devotional listening) as transformative: by hearing Śiva (Śambhu), the beings attain parama-niścaya—steadfast, clarified resolve aligned with Pati (the Lord), which in Shaiva Siddhanta is a key step toward grace (anugraha) and right action.

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

Śambhu’s spoken word represents Saguna Shiva’s accessible guidance for devotees. In Linga-worship traditions, receiving Shiva’s instruction through scripture and guru is treated as Shiva’s living presence—leading the devotee to orderly, dharmic conduct and focused devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and anusaraṇa: regularly hearing/reciting Shiva Purana passages, then acting with firm resolve. As a takeaway, combine daily Panchakshara japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with attentive scriptural listening to stabilize niścaya.