Shloka 31

Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तस्तेन भिल्लेन शिवसच्छक्तिशोभिना । गणेन पाण्डवस्तं च प्राह स्मृत्वा च शङ्करम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktastena bhillena śivasacchaktiśobhinā | gaṇena pāṇḍavastaṃ ca prāha smṛtvā ca śaṅkaram

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus addressed by that Bhilla, the Pāṇḍava—after remembering Śaṅkara—replied to him, together with the gaṇa who shone with the true power of Śiva.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नन्दिनः ईश्वरः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) (उवाच = लिट्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-सूचक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्तः: having been addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता) (of following finite verb प्राह)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे 'addressed/said to'

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• भिल्लेन: by the Bhilla
• भिल्लेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवसत्-शक्ति-शोभिना: by (the Bhilla) resplendent with Shiva-like true power
• शिवसत्-शक्ति-शोभिना: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) (भिल्लेन इत्यस्य)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + शोभिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (शिववत् सत्-शक्त्या शोभमानः/शोभिन्)

• गणेन: by the attendant/gaṇa
• गणेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पाण्डवः: the Pāṇḍava (Arjuna)
• पाण्डवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाण्डव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

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

• प्राह: said/spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अह्/ब्रू (धातु) (प्राह = लिट्/परिपूर्णभूत)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण) (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): 'having remembered'

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

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Shiva)
• शङ्करम्: Karma (कर्म) (स्मृत्वा इत्यस्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara (Nandi)
• Shiva (Shankara)
• Ganas
• Bhilla
• Pandava

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva-smaraṇa (remembering Śaṅkara) as the inner alignment that sanctifies speech and action; in Shaiva Siddhanta, grace and right understanding arise when the soul turns toward Pati (Shiva) with devotion.

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

Remembering Śaṅkara here points to Saguna Shiva—approached through name, form, and devotion—where the devotee’s mind first takes refuge in Shiva before engaging the world, a key attitude in Linga-centered worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva-nāma-smaraṇa (mentally repeating Shiva’s names, such as the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before speaking or beginning any act, as a daily bhakti discipline.