Shloka 29

उपमन्यूपदेशः

Upamanyu’s Instruction

Devanagari script

पिंगला गणिका ख्याता मदराह्वो द्विजाधमः । शैवमृषभमभ्यर्च्य लेभाते सद्गतिं च तौ

Transliteration

piṃgalā gaṇikā khyātā madarāhvo dvijādhamaḥ | śaivamṛṣabhamabhyarcya lebhāte sadgatiṃ ca tau

Translation

Piṅgalā, famed as a courtesan, and Madarāhva, the most fallen among the twice-born—having worshipped the Śaiva bull (Nandin), both of them attained the blessed state.

Word by Word

• पिङ्गला: Piṅgalā (a woman)
• पिङ्गला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• गणिका: courtesan
• गणिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पिङ्गलायाः विशेषण/समनाधिकरण

• ख्याता: renowned
• ख्याता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्यात (कृदन्त; √ख्या धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मदराह्वः: Madarāhva (one named ‘Madara’)
• मदराह्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदर + आह्व (प्रातिपदिक); मदर-आह्व (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘मदर इति आह्वः यस्य सः’

• द्विजाधमः: the lowest among the twice-born
• द्विजाधमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज + अधम (प्रातिपदिक); द्विज-अधम (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘द्विजानाम् अधमः’

• शैवम्: Śaiva, pertaining to Śiva
• शैवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; मृषभम् विशेषयति

• ऋषभम्: bull (Nandin)
• ऋषभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अभ्यर्च्य: having worshipped
• अभ्यर्च्य: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वक्रिया—‘पूजित्वा’

• लेभाते: the two obtained
• लेभाते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सद्गतिम्: good destination/salvation
• सद्गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्गति (प्रातिपदिक); सत्-गति (समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘सत् एव गतिः’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Elevates Nandin-bhakti as a gateway to Śiva’s grace: honoring Śiva’s gaṇa/vehicle is treated as honoring Śiva himself, yielding sadgati.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Pingala
• Madarahva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva’s grace (anugraha) is not restricted by social identity or past conduct: even those considered fallen can attain sadgati through sincere Śaiva devotion.

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

Nandin, Śiva’s bull and foremost gaṇa, represents Saguna Śiva’s accessible presence; reverent worship of Śiva’s attendants and emblems supports bhakti and leads the devotee toward Śiva’s saving grace, akin to Linga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Śaiva pūjā with devotion—beginning with respectful worship of Nandin (before approaching the Linga), accompanied by japa of Śiva’s name (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and a prayer for purification and right destiny (sadgati).