Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 55

नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”

Devanagari script

मृतवत्पतितं दृष्ट्वा पितरं च पितामहम् । प्रत्यवोचत्प्रसन्नात्मा स्मृत्वा शिवपदाम्बुजम्

Transliteration

mṛtavatpatitaṃ dṛṣṭvā pitaraṃ ca pitāmaham | pratyavocatprasannātmā smṛtvā śivapadāmbujam

Translation

पिता और पितामह को मृतवत् गिरा देखकर, वह—भगवान् शिव के चरणकमलों का स्मरण कर मन में प्रसन्न होकर—उत्तर देने लगा।

Word by Word

• मृतवत्: as if dead
• मृतवत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/comparative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मृत (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable in -वत् meaning ‘like/as’); उपमान

• पतितम्: fallen
• पतितम्: विशेषण (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पत् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying पितरम्

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); ‘having seen’

• पितरम्: father
• पितरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पितामहम्: grandfather
• पितामहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of दृष्ट्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रत्यवोचत्: replied/spoke in response
• प्रत्यवोचत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + अव + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रसन्नात्मा: one whose mind was calm/pleased
• प्रसन्नात्मा: विशेषण (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रसन्नः आत्मा यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; adjective (bahuvrīhi-like sense) qualifying implied subject (e.g., नन्दी/पुत्रः)

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव कृदन्त (gerund); ‘having remembered’

• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: Śiva’s lotus-feet
• शिवपदाम्बुजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of स्मृत्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य पदाम्बुजम् = शिव-पद-अम्बुजम् ‘lotus-feet of Śiva’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śivapadāmbujam (smṛti of the lotus-feet of Śiva)

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva-smaraṇa (remembrance of Shiva) as an immediate inner refuge: even when confronted with death-like collapse and shock, the devotee’s mind becomes prasanna (clear, steady), enabling dharmic speech and right action—an expression of Pati’s (Śiva’s) grace stabilizing the pashu (individual soul).

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

Remembering “Śiva’s lotus-feet” points to Saguna devotion—holding a concrete, grace-bestowing form in the heart. In Shiva Purana practice, this inner recollection parallels Linga-worship: the Linga is the visible support for meditation, and the lotus-feet are the devotional focus that turns panic into surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is japa with steady recollection—especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—while mentally taking refuge at Śiva’s lotus-feet; this cultivates prasannatā (clarity) in distress and aligns the mind with Śiva-bhakti.