Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

छत्रं शतशलाकं च वालव्यजनमेव च दत्तं महात्मना तेन ब्रह्मणा परमेष्ठिना

Transliteration

chatraṃ śataśalākaṃ ca vālavyajanameva ca dattaṃ mahātmanā tena brahmaṇā parameṣṭhinā

Translation

മഹാത്മാവായ പരമേഷ്ഠി ബ്രഹ്മാവ് നൂറു ദണ്ഡങ്ങളുള്ള രാജച്ഛത്രവും വാലവ്യജനമായ ചാമരവും ദാനമായി നൽകി. ഇങ്ങനെ മംഗളദാനങ്ങളാൽ അദ്ദേഹം പരമ പതിയെ ആദരത്തോടെ പൂജിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• छत्रम् (chatram): parasol, royal canopy

• शत-शलाकम् (śata-śalākam): having a hundred ribs/spokes

• च (ca): and

• वाल-व्यजनम् (vāla-vyajanam): yak-tail fan/whisk used in royal and temple honor

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• च (ca): and

• दत्तम् (dattam): given, bestowed

• महात्मना (mahātmanā): by the great-souled one

• तेन (tena): by him/that one

• ब्रह्मणा (brahmaṇā): by Brahmā

• परमेष्ठिना (parameṣṭhinā): by Parameṣṭhin, the supreme seat-holder (epithet of Brahmā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; reporting a deed of Brahma within the story)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It frames royal insignia (parasol and yak-tail fan) as sacred honors that can be offered or donated as part of Shiva-oriented merit (puṇya), treating worship as reverent service (upacāra) to the Supreme Pati.

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

By implying that even Brahmā honors the Supreme Lord through auspicious gifting, it reflects Shiva-tattva as the highest sovereignty—Pati—before whom cosmic authorities also perform devotion and dharmic acts.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights dāna and pūjā-upacāra (honorific offerings) rather than a yogic technique—showing that disciplined giving, aligned with devotion, supports purification of the paśu (soul) from pāśa (bondage) through dharmic merit.