Shloka 16

नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”

Devanagari script

आराधय महादेवं तत्पुत्रविनिकाम्यया । सर्वेश्वरो महाशक्तः स ते पुत्रं प्रदास्यति

Transliteration

ārādhaya mahādevaṃ tatputravinikāmyayā | sarveśvaro mahāśaktaḥ sa te putraṃ pradāsyati

Translation

Worship Mahādeva with the earnest desire for that son. For He is the Lord of all and supremely powerful; He will grant you a son.

Word by Word

• ārādhaya: worship
• ārādhaya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• mahādevam: Mahādeva
• mahādevam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), used as stem in compound; 'that'

• putra: son
• putra: —
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), stem form used in compound

• vinikāmyayā: with the desire (for)
• vinikāmyayā: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi + ni + kam (धातु) → vinikāmya (कृदन्त, यत्/णिच्-भाव) + -ā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); abstract noun meaning 'desire/longing'

• tatputravinikāmyayā: with longing for that son
• tatputravinikāmyayā: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + putra + vinikāmya (प्रातिपदिक-समास)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: 'desire for that son'

• sarveśvaraḥ: the Lord of all
• sarveśvaraḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahāśaktaḥ: greatly powerful
• mahāśaktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + śakta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective to sarveśvaraḥ

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• putram: a son
• putram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pradāsyati: will grant
• pradāsyati: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + dā (धातु)
• Form: Future (लृट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva as sarveśvara who bestows putra-prāpti (progeny) through worship; models the Siddhānta theme that grace (anugraha) removes a specific karmic impediment.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahadeva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere bhakti directed to Mahādeva—Pati, the supreme Lord—invokes His anugraha (grace), by which even worldly aims like progeny are fulfilled when sought in a dharmic spirit.

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

The verse emphasizes approachable, grace-bestowing Saguna Śiva: through concrete worship (often linga-ārādhana in Purāṇic practice), the devotee receives tangible fruits, showing Śiva as both transcendent Lord and compassionate giver of boons.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform regular Śiva-ārādhana with focused intention—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), linga-pūjā, and maintaining purity with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive disciplines.