Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं स्तुत्वा स्तुतिभिरादरात् । शिलादो मुनिशार्दूलस्तमाह सुकृताञ्जलिः

Transliteration

tataḥ praṇamya deveśaṃ stutvā stutibhirādarāt | śilādo muniśārdūlastamāha sukṛtāñjaliḥ

Translation

Then, having bowed to the Lord of the gods and praised Him with reverent hymns, the great sage Śilāda—foremost among ascetics—addressed Him with palms joined in devotion.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषणम् (adverb)

• praṇamya: having bowed
• praṇamya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pra-ṇam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय, gerund), पूर्वकाले (having done)

• deveśam: the Lord of gods
• deveśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (lord of gods)

• stutvā: having praised
• stutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: stu (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय, gerund)

• stutibhiḥ: with hymns/praises
• stutibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: stuti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन

• ādarāt: out of respect
• ādarāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (ablative of cause: 'out of')

• śilādaḥ: Śilāda
• śilādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• muni-śārdūlaḥ: the tiger among sages
• muni-śārdūlaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः: कर्मधारय (tiger among sages)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• āha: said
• āha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• su-kṛta-añjaliḥ: with hands properly folded (in reverence)
• su-kṛta-añjaliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + kṛta + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण (kṛta = क्त), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (well-made + folded-hands gesture)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Śilāda

FAQs

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

It presents the Shaiva Siddhanta posture of approach to Pati (Lord Shiva): humility (praṇāma), heartfelt praise (stuti), and surrender (añjali), showing that grace arises through devotion and reverence.

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

Although the verse does not name the Liṅga explicitly, it describes the classic Saguna mode of worship—bowing, chanting hymns, and offering añjali—through which the devotee relates personally to Shiva as Deveśa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is indicated: begin Shiva worship with praṇāma, recite stotras or the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with reverence, and hold the mind steady in añjali-bhāva (devout folded-hands contemplation).