Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

त्रिशूलाद्यायुधं दीप्तं सर्वथा रुद्ररूपिणम् । महानन्दभरः प्रीत्या प्रणम्यं प्रणनाम च

Transliteration

triśūlādyāyudhaṃ dīptaṃ sarvathā rudrarūpiṇam | mahānandabharaḥ prītyā praṇamyaṃ praṇanāma ca

Translation

Beholding the radiant weapons—beginning with the trident—shining forth as the very form of Rudra in every way, he, filled with great bliss, bowed down with loving devotion and again offered reverent prostration.

Word by Word

• त्रिशूल-आदि-आयुधम्: weapon (such as the trident, etc.)
• त्रिशूल-आदि-आयुधम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रिशूल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—आदि-तत्पुरुषः (triśūla-ādi) + तत्पुरुषः (triśūlādy = having trident etc.) + आयुधम् (weapon)

• दीप्तम्: blazing, radiant
• दीप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीप् (धातु) → दीप्त (कृदन्त/PPP)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (PPP); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• सर्वथा: in every way, entirely
• सर्वथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• रुद्र-रूपिणम्: having the form of Rudra
• रुद्र-रूपिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रुद्रस्य रूपम् यस्य)

• महा-आनन्द-भरः: a great load/overflow of joy
• महा-आनन्द-भरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक) + भर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (आनन्दस्य भरः) + कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (महा-आनन्द)

• प्रीत्या: with love, out of affection
• प्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधने (by/with affection)

• प्रणम्यम्: worthy to be saluted
• प्रणम्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु) → प्रणम्य (कृदन्त/gerundive)
• Form: कृदन्तः—यत् (gerundive/भाव्य); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be bowed to / worthy of salutation’

• प्रणनाम: he bowed, he saluted
• प्रणनाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; क्रिया

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्—समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The devotee’s response to Rudra’s armed, radiant epiphany is ānanda and repeated praṇāma—typical of Purāṇic darśana where fearsome iconography becomes grace-bestowing for the surrendered.

Significance: Teaches that Rudra’s ‘ugra’ emblems (triśūla etc.) are not merely terrifying but are auspicious for the devotee; surrender transforms raudra into prasāda.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that encountering Rudra’s manifest majesty (Saguna Shiva) naturally culminates in bliss and surrender; loving pranama becomes a direct means to receive Shiva’s grace, which loosens the bonds (pāśa) and turns the soul toward liberation.

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

The verse highlights devotion to Shiva’s visible, attribute-bearing form (Rudra with weapons). In Shaiva practice this complements Linga worship: the Linga signifies the all-pervading reality, while Rudra’s form supports focused bhakti, reverence, and inner absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is repeated pranama with bhakti while mentally visualizing Rudra and reciting the Panchakshara mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as an act of surrender; this aligns the mind with Shiva’s protective, transformative power.