Shloka 26

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

नंदीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा तं स्वहस्ताभ्यामुत्थाप्य प्रभुरर्जुनम् । विलज्जं कारयामास गणैश्च स्वामिनो गणैः

Transliteration

naṃdīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā taṃ svahastābhyāmutthāpya prabhurarjunam | vilajjaṃ kārayāmāsa gaṇaiśca svāmino gaṇaiḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Having spoken thus, the Lord lifted Arjuna up with His own hands, and through the Gaṇas—the attendants of his Master—He made him feel humbled and ashamed.

Word by Word

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

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

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

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

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

• स्वहस्ताभ्याम्: with (his) own two hands
• स्वहस्ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व-हस्त (प्रातिपदिक; स्व + हस्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य हस्तौ)

• उत्थाप्य: having lifted/raised
• उत्थाप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-स्था (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय-कृदन्त (gerund)

• प्रभुः: the lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्जुनम्: Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विलज्जम्: ashamed
• विलज्जम्: Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलज्ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अर्जुनम्)

• कारयामास: caused (him) to do / made
• कारयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु; णिच् causative)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

• गणैः: by the attendants
• गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

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

• स्वामिनः: of the lord (Śiva)
• स्वामिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गणैः: by the gaṇas
• गणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Arjuna
• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s grace as both uplifting and ego-dissolving: Arjuna is physically raised by the Lord, yet inwardly humbled through the Lord’s attendants—teaching that true devotion matures into surrender and modesty before Pati (Shiva).

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s compassionate, personal intervention: the Lord directly engages the devotee, correcting pride and aligning the worshipper with reverence toward Shiva, His symbols, and His sacred retinue (Gaṇas) that guard dharma and sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is humility in practice: approach japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offerings like bhasma/tripundra with a surrendered mind, praying for the removal of ahaṅkāra (ego) rather than seeking display of power.