Shloka 1

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । पिप्पलादाख्यपरममवतारं महेशितुः । शृणु प्राज्ञ महाप्रीत्या भक्तिवर्धनमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | pippalādākhyaparamamavatāraṃ maheśituḥ | śṛṇu prājña mahāprītyā bhaktivardhanamuttamam

Translation

ナンディーシュヴァラは言った。「賢き者よ、大いなる歓喜をもって聞け。マヘーシャの至上の化身、ピッパラーダと名づけられた御姿についてである。これは信愛（バクティ）を増し育てる最上の物語である。」

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नामपद (Nandīśvara)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पिप्पलाद-आख्य-परमम्: supreme, named Pippalāda
• पिप्पलाद-आख्य-परमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिप्पलाद (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (कृदन्त; √ख्या (धातु) क्त) + परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण-समूहः (called Pippalāda, supreme)

• अवतारम्: incarnation
• अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महेशितुः: of Mahēśa (the Great Lord)
• महेशितुः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेशितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्राज्ञ: O wise one
• प्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• महाप्रीत्या: with great delight
• महाप्रीत्या: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण/हेतु-भाव (instrumental of manner)

• भक्ति-वर्धनम्: devotion-increasing (account)
• भक्ति-वर्धनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (that which increases devotion)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Pippalada

FAQs

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

It frames the teaching as a bhakti-vardhana narrative: hearing (śravaṇa) about Shiva’s supreme manifestation strengthens devotion, which in Shaiva Siddhanta is a principal means for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

By introducing Shiva’s avatāra as a devotional topic, it supports Saguna-upāsanā—approaching the transcendent (Nirguna) Lord through accessible forms, stories, and names that steady the mind and deepen reverence toward the Linga and Shiva’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is śravaṇa and smaraṇa: listen attentively to Shiva’s līlā and contemplate it with joy; this can be paired with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to intentionally cultivate bhakti.