Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

अथ ब्रह्मादयो देवा देवपल्यश्च सर्वशः । तत्राजग्मुश्च सुप्रीत्या हरिश्चैव शिवोऽम्बिका

Transliteration

atha brahmādayo devā devapalyaśca sarvaśaḥ | tatrājagmuśca suprītyā hariścaiva śivo'mbikā

Translation

Then Brahmā and the other gods, along with all the wives of the gods, came there with great joy; and Hari (Viṣṇu) also came—together with Lord Śiva and Ambikā (Pārvatī).

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (then/now)

• ब्रह्मादयः: Brahmā and others
• ब्रह्मादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—ब्रह्मा आदिः येषाम् (Brahmā and others)

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• देवपल्यः: wives of the gods
• देवपल्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; समासः—देवानां पत्यः/पत्नीः (wives of the gods)

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

• सर्वशः: in every way / altogether
• सर्वशः: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वशः (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: in every way/all together)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आजग्मुः: they came
• आजग्मुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्गः—आ

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

• सुप्रीत्या: with great delight
• सुप्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुप्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; करण/हेतुवाचक (instrumental: with great joy)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अम्बिका: Ambikā (Pārvatī)
• अम्बिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu (Hari)
• Shiva
• Parvati (Ambika)
• Devas
• Devi-patnis (wives of the gods)

FAQs

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

It highlights a sacred convergence where the devas approach the divine presence with joy, implying that auspicious events in the Purana unfold when devotion (prīti) draws all beings toward Śiva—the supreme Pati—along with His Śakti, Ambikā.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna worship: Śiva is approached as a personally present Lord, accompanied by Ambikā. In Shaiva practice this supports temple and Liṅga-upāsanā, where devotees and even devas gather to honor Śiva’s manifest, grace-giving form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is joyful, collective devotion—approaching Śiva with prīti. Practically, one may perform simple Śiva-pūjā with mantra-japa (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a reverent mental offering, mirroring the devas’ glad approach.