Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

सत्कृतौ मुनिना तेन सूपविष्टो महामुनी । ऊचतुश्च महात्मानौ मां निरीक्ष्य मुहुर्मुहुः

Transliteration

satkṛtau muninā tena sūpaviṣṭo mahāmunī | ūcatuśca mahātmānau māṃ nirīkṣya muhurmuhuḥ

Translation

Thus honored by that sage, the great ascetic was respectfully seated. Then the two noble, great-souled ones, repeatedly looking at me, spoke.

Word by Word

• सत्कृतौ: (the two) honored
• सत्कृतौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृ (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त (past passive participle) from सत्कृ (to honor), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (they) having been honored

• मुनिना: by the sage
• मुनिना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तेन: by him / by that (sage)
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सु-उपविष्टः: well-seated
• सु-उपविष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग) + उपविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √विश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु + उपविष्ट)

• महामुनी: the great sage
• महामुनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• ऊचतुः: they said
• ऊचतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• महात्मानौ: the two great-souled ones
• महात्मानौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; कर्मधारय-समास

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निरीक्ष्य: having observed
• निरीक्ष्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having looked)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (repetition for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the scene as part of the Shatarudrasaṃhitā narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

FAQs

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

It highlights dharmic conduct—honoring realized sages and receiving sacred discourse with humility—an essential foundation for Shaiva understanding and inner purification.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it establishes the proper devotional context: reverence, receptivity, and respectful seating of a holy person—qualities that also underpin sincere Linga worship and approach to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice reverent satsanga: approach teachers with humility, listen repeatedly and attentively, and cultivate disciplined receptivity—supporting mantra-japa (such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as the teaching unfolds.