Shloka 9

Adhyaya 44: Nandikesvara’s Manifestation and Abhisheka; The Rule of Namaskara in Shiva-Nama

Devanagari script

ते गणेशा महासत्त्वाः सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वराः प्रणम्य देवं देवीं च इदं वचनम् अब्रुवन्

Transliteration

te gaṇeśā mahāsattvāḥ sarvadeveśvareśvarāḥ praṇamya devaṃ devīṃ ca idaṃ vacanam abruvan

Translation

તે મહાસત્ત્વશાળી ગણેશ્વરો—સર્વ દેવાધિપતિઓમાં પણ અધિપતિ—દેવ અને દેવીને પ્રણામ કરીને પછી આ વચન બોલ્યા।

Word by Word

• ते (te): those

• गणेशाः (gaṇeśāḥ): lords of the gaṇas/attendant hosts

• महासत्त्वाः (mahāsattvāḥ): great-souled, mighty beings

• सर्वदेवेश्वरेश्वराः (sarva-deveśvara-īśvarāḥ): supreme overlords among the lords of all the gods

• प्रणम्य (praṇamya): having bowed down, having paid obeisance

• देवं (devaṁ): the God (Śiva)

• देवीं (devīṁ): the Goddess (Śakti/Umā)

• च (ca): and

• इदं (idaṁ): this

• वचनम् (vacanam): speech, statement

• अब्रुवन् (abruvan): they said, they spoke.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating); within the scene, Shiva’s Gaṇas speak after bowing to Shiva and the Goddess

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Ganas

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes the Śaiva order of approach: first praṇāma (reverent surrender) to Śiva along with Śakti, and only then speech, prayer, or request—mirroring the etiquette of Liṅga-pūjā where devotion precedes petition.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By portraying Śiva as the Deva addressed alongside Devī and as the supreme center before whom even exalted cosmic beings (Gaṇa-lords) bow, it implies Śiva as Pati—the highest Lord—while Śakti is honored as inseparable power in the same act of worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇāma (bowing) and verbal stuti/prārthanā: the foundational devotional discipline that aligns the paśu (individual soul) toward Pati, softening pāśa (bondage) through humility and right orientation before worship or instruction.