Shloka 28

Brahmā–Viṣṇu-Pūjā: Upacāra-Vistāra and Īśvara’s Prasāda

Offerings in Shiva Worship and the Lord’s Grace

Devanagari script

नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । इत्यनुगृह्य भगवान्विनीतौ विधिमाधवौ । यत्पूर्वं प्रहतं युद्धे तयोः सैन्यं परस्परम्

Transliteration

naṃdikeśvara uvāca | ityanugṛhya bhagavānvinītau vidhimādhavau | yatpūrvaṃ prahataṃ yuddhe tayoḥ sainyaṃ parasparam

Translation

Nandikeśvara said: “Thus did the Blessed Lord show grace to the humble Vidhi (Brahmā) and Mādhava (Viṣṇu). And the armies of those two—formerly struck down in their battle against each other—were restored and set at peace by His compassion.”

Word by Word

• नन्दिकेश्वरः: Nandikeśvara
• नन्दिकेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिकेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—नन्देः ईश्वरः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-इत्यादि अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरण-सूचक (quotative particle)

• अनुगृह्य: having blessed
• अनुगृह्य: Kriya (क्रिया—पूर्वकालिक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु√ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having favored/blessed’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विनीतौ: the two humble/obedient ones
• विनीतौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनीत (प्रातिपदिक; √नी + नि, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• विधिम्: Brahmā (Vidhī)
• विधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• माधवम्: Viṣṇu (Mādhava)
• माधवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माधव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यत्: which/that (thing)
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-प्रत्यय (relative pronoun)

• पूर्वम्: formerly
• पूर्वम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण—काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverbial accusative) ‘formerly/previously’

• प्रहतम्: struck down
• प्रहतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र√हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘struck/slain’

• युद्धे: in battle
• युद्धे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तयोः: of the two
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• सैन्यम्: army
• सैन्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परस्परम्: mutually
• परस्परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (reciprocal adverb) ‘mutually/each other’

Speaker

Nandikeśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace): when even exalted deities become vinīta (humble), the Lord resolves conflict and restores harmony—teaching that ego-driven rivalry is dissolved by surrender to Pati (Śiva), the supreme Lord.

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

The verse portrays the personal, compassionate Lord (Saguna Śiva) who intervenes in cosmic disorder. In Linga-worship, devotees approach this same gracious Presence—seeking peace, reconciliation, and restoration through Śiva’s living sanctity in the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is cultivating vinaya through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) with devotion—practices aligned with surrender that invites Śiva’s anugraha.