Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

नंदीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्तस्ततो देवस्त्र्यम्बकस्तेन शङ्करः । प्रत्युवाच प्रसन्नात्मा शिलादं मुनिसत्तमम्

Transliteration

naṃdīśvara uvāca | evamuktastato devastryambakastena śaṅkaraḥ | pratyuvāca prasannātmā śilādaṃ munisattamam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus addressed by him, the Lord—Tryambaka, Śaṅkara—then replied with a serene and gracious heart to Śilāda, the foremost of sages.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular — speaker name

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular — ‘said’

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘thus’

• उक्तः: having been addressed
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular — past passive participle (क्त) ‘having been addressed/spoken to’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb — ‘then/from that’

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular — ‘the god’

• त्र्यम्बकः: Tryambaka
• त्र्यम्बकः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्र्यम्बक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular — epithet of Śiva

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular — ‘by him/with that’

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular — Śaṅkara

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रत् + वच् (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person, Singular, Parasmaipada — ‘replied’

• प्रसन्न-आत्मा: with a serene heart
• प्रसन्न-आत्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular — कर्मधारय: ‘one whose self is pleased/serene’

• शिलादम्: Śilāda
• शिलादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिलाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular — person addressed (object of speaking)

• मुनि-सत्तमम्: the best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular — तत्पुरुष: ‘best among sages’

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Ishana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Narrative transition: Nandīśvara frames Śiva (Tryambaka/Śaṅkara) responding to Śilāda; not a Jyotirliṅga account.

Significance: Highlights Śiva’s prasāda (gracious disposition) as the operative cause of boons—central to anugraha in Siddhānta.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Shilada

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the gracious Lord) who responds directly to sincere devotion; the phrase “prasannātmā” signals divine grace (anugraha) as the decisive force that uplifts the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

By naming Śiva as Tryambaka and Śaṅkara, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—God approachable through name, form, and worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā)—who personally answers the devotee’s prayer and grants guidance or boons.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to approach Śiva with humble prayer and steady devotion—commonly expressed through pañcākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple Liṅga worship with purity, and cultivating a calm, surrendered mind that invites Śiva’s prasāda (grace).