Shloka 62

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वाहं पितुः पादौ प्रणम्य शिरसा मुने । प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य च तमगच्छं वनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvāhaṃ pituḥ pādau praṇamya śirasā mune | pradakṣiṇīkṛtya ca tamagacchaṃ vanamuttamam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: “Having spoken thus, O sage, I bowed with my head at my father’s feet. After circumambulating him in reverence, I went to that most excellent forest.”

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/लिट्); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध/प्रकरणसूचक (Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• पितुः: of (my) father
• पितुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• पादौ: (his) two feet
• पादौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• शिरसा: with (my) head
• शिरसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य: having circumambulated
• प्रदक्षिणीकृत्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + दक्षिणी + कृ (धातु) + त्वा/ल्यप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘प्रदक्षिणां कृत्वा’ इत्यर्थः; पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तम्: him
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• अगच्छम्: I went
• अगच्छम्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past/लङ्); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद

• वनम्: to the forest
• वनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) वनम् इति

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models guru/elder-veneration and the etiquette that supports sādhana: praṇāma and pradakṣiṇā as preparatory purifications.

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Father (pitu)

FAQs

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

It highlights Shaiva dharma as lived devotion: humility, honoring one’s source (father/elder), and disciplined action—qualities that purify the pashu (bound soul) and prepare it for Shiva’s grace.

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

The acts of bowing and pradakshina mirror standard Saguna Shiva worship around the Shiva Linga—external reverence expressing inner surrender, which is central to Shaiva Siddhanta bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform respectful pranama and pradakshina with mindfulness; in Shiva worship this corresponds to circumambulating the Shiva Linga while maintaining a devotional attitude and self-restraint.