Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

शिव उवाच । पूर्वमाराधितो विप्र ब्रह्मणाहं तपोधन । तपसा चावतारार्थं मुनिभिश्च सुरोत्तमैः

Transliteration

śiva uvāca | pūrvamārādhito vipra brahmaṇāhaṃ tapodhana | tapasā cāvatārārthaṃ munibhiśca surottamaiḥ

Translation

Śiva said: “O brāhmaṇa, O treasure of austerity—formerly Brahmā worshipped Me, and the supreme gods and sages too worshipped Me through tapas, for the very purpose of My descent and manifestation (avatāra).”

Word by Word

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular — speaker

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

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्वम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) — ‘formerly/before’

• आराधितः: (I was) worshipped
• आराधितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + राध् (धातु) + आराधित (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular — past passive participle (क्त) ‘worshipped/propitiated’

• विप्र: O brāhmaṇa
• विप्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular — address

• ब्रह्मणा: by Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणा: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular — ‘by Brahmā’

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative, Singular — ‘I’

• तपोधन: O one rich in austerity
• तपोधन: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular — बहुव्रीहि: ‘one whose wealth is tapas’ (address)

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular — ‘by/with austerity’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक) — ‘and’

• अवतार-अर्थम्: for (my) incarnation
• अवतार-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular — तत्पुरुष: ‘for the purpose of incarnation/descent’

• मुनिभिः: by sages
• मुनिभिः: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural — ‘by sages’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction — ‘and’

• सुर-उत्तमैः: by the best of gods
• सुर-उत्तमैः: Karaṇa/Agent (करण/कर्तृ-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural — तत्पुरुष: ‘by the best of gods’

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Śiva explains prior propitiations by Brahmā and other devas/munis for the purpose of avatāra—cosmic descent rather than site-manifestation.

Significance: Teaches that even Brahmā and the suras approach Śiva through tapas; reinforces Śiva’s supremacy and accessibility through disciplined worship.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatara (divine descent) intention referenced

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Munis
• Devas

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Śiva’s divine manifestation (avatāra) is not random: it is invoked by intense tapas and worship, showing the responsiveness of Pati (Śiva) to sincere devotion and disciplined spiritual effort.

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

By stating that Brahmā, sages, and the best of devas worshipped Śiva to bring about His descent, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the transcendent Lord through accessible forms and rites (such as Liṅga-ārādhana) so that His grace becomes manifest in the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Tapas-centered worship is emphasized: steady japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), vrata/discipline, and focused meditation as a means to invoke Śiva’s grace and presence.