Shloka 21

नन्दिकेश्वरावताराभिषेकविवाहवर्णनम्

Nandikeśvara: Incarnation, Consecration, and Marriage—Description

Devanagari script

अथ शम्भुरुवाचोमामभिषिञ्चामि नन्दिनम् । गणेन्द्रं व्याहरिष्यामि किं वा त्वं मन्यसेऽव्यये

Transliteration

atha śambhuruvācomāmabhiṣiñcāmi nandinam | gaṇendraṃ vyāhariṣyāmi kiṃ vā tvaṃ manyase'vyaye

Translation

Then Śambhu (Lord Śiva) said: “O Umā, I shall anoint Nandin with abhiṣeka. I shall proclaim him as the lord of the Gaṇas. What do you think, O Imperishable One?”

Word by Word

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भार्थक/अनन्तरार्थक (indeclinable; then/now)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• उमाम्: Umā
• उमाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन (Singular)

• अभिषिञ्चामि: I anoint/consecrate
• अभिषिञ्चामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-षिच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person); एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपदम्

• नन्दिनम्: Nandin
• नन्दिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन (Singular)

• गणेन्द्रम्: lord of the gaṇas
• गणेन्द्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): गणानाम् इन्द्रः; पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• व्याहरिष्यामि: I will proclaim/declare
• व्याहरिष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-आ-हृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future); उत्तमपुरुष (1st person); एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• किम्: what?
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative) एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक (interrogative)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: or/indeed)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; मध्यमपुरुष-सूचक; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• मन्यसे: you think/consider
• मन्यसे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person); एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• अव्यये: O imperishable one
• अव्यये: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सम्बोधन/सप्तमी-एकवचन (Vocative/Locative singular used as address); विशेषणरूपेण (as epithet)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Nandi

FAQs

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

Śiva’s consecration of Nandin shows that intimate service (sevā) to Pati (the Lord) is itself a sacred empowerment; the Lord uplifts the devoted and appoints them to uphold dharma in his divine retinue.

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

In Śaiva temple practice, Nandi is the foremost attendant facing the Liṅga; this verse supports the idea that approaching Saguna Śiva is traditionally accompanied by honoring Nandi as Śiva’s appointed gaṇendra and exemplar of unwavering bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā by offering reverence to Nandi (and the Gaṇas), then proceed to Liṅga worship with mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) in a mood of humble service.