Shloka 18

Śravaṇa–Kīrtana–Manana: Definitions and Hierarchy of Śaiva Sādhanā (श्रवणकीर्तनमनन-निरूपणम्)

Devanagari script

शिवाज्ञया ततः प्राप्तो भगवान्नंदिकेश्वरः । स मे दयालुर्भगवान्सर्वसाक्षी गणेश्वरः

Transliteration

śivājñayā tataḥ prāpto bhagavānnaṃdikeśvaraḥ | sa me dayālurbhagavānsarvasākṣī gaṇeśvaraḥ

Translation

Then, by Śiva’s command, the venerable Lord Nandikeśvara arrived. He is my compassionate Lord—the all-witnessing Gaṇeśvara, master of Śiva’s gaṇa attendants.

Word by Word

• शिवाज्ञया: by Śiva’s command
• शिवाज्ञया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य आज्ञा); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय) < तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: thereafter/from there)

• प्राप्तः: arrived/obtained
• प्राप्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-क्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; agrees with नन्दिकेश्वरः

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; honorific

• नन्दिकेश्वरः: Nandikeśvara
• नन्दिकेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नन्देः ईश्वरः / नन्दिनः ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• मे: to me/for me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी (6/4), एकवचन; enclitic (to me/of me)

• दयालुः: compassionate
• दयालुः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयालु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; adjective of सः

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; apposition

• सर्वसाक्षी: witness of all
• सर्वसाक्षी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + साक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वः साक्षी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; adjective of भगवान्/गणेश्वरः

• गणेश्वरः: Lord of the gaṇas
• गणेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गणानाम् ईश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It highlights that Śiva’s grace operates through His ordained order (ājñā), and that Nandikeśvara—ever-compassionate and all-witnessing—embodies devoted service (śiva-sevā) as a direct spiritual aid for seekers.

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

In Saguna Śiva worship, the Lord is approached through His manifest forms and divine retinue; honoring Nandikeśvara as Śiva’s foremost attendant supports disciplined, reverent Linga worship aligned with Śiva’s command and presence as the inner witness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice devoted service and disciplined worship: begin Linga-pūjā with remembrance of Śiva’s command, recite the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and cultivate the attitude that Śiva (and His ever-witnessing presence) observes all actions—encouraging purity, restraint, and bhakti.