Shloka 31

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्तस्त्वर्जुनस्तेन प्रभुणा शंकरेण सः । उवाच शंकरं भक्त्या सावधानतया स्थितः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktastvarjunastena prabhuṇā śaṃkareṇa saḥ | uvāca śaṃkaraṃ bhaktyā sāvadhānatayā sthitaḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus addressed by the Lord Śaṅkara, Arjuna—standing attentive and composed—replied to Śaṅkara with devotion.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

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

• उक्तः: having been addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive)

• तु: then/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अनुवादार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: arjuna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुं/नपुंसक (m/n), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रभुणा: by the lord/master
• प्रभुणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• शंकरेण: by Śaṅkara
• शंकरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद

• शंकरम्: to Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• सावधानतया: with attentiveness
• सावधानतया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvadhānatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (singular)

• स्थितः: standing/being
• स्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (past active participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; अवस्थावाचक (state)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva ideal of approaching Śiva with bhakti and sāvadhānatā—devotion joined to alert, disciplined attention—so the soul (paśu) becomes receptive to the Lord (Pati) and His liberating instruction.

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

Arjuna’s devotional, attentive reply reflects the proper inner posture for Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—whether before the Liṅga or Śiva’s manifest form—where reverent listening and responsive prayer deepen grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies disciplined śravaṇa (attentive listening) and bhakti while engaging in Śiva worship—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with steady mindfulness rather than distraction.