Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

दिव्यवर्षसहस्रेण तप्यमानाय शूलधृक् । सर्वदेवाधिपस्तस्मै वरदोस्मीत्यभाषत

Transliteration

divyavarṣasahasreṇa tapyamānāya śūladhṛk | sarvadevādhipastasmai varadosmītyabhāṣata

Translation

ആയിരം ദിവ്യവർഷങ്ങൾ തപസ്സിൽ ലീനനായ അവനോട് ത്രിശൂലധാരി, സർവ്വദേവാധിപനായ ശിവൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—“ഞാൻ നിനക്ക് വരദാതാവാണ്.”

Word by Word

• दिव्यवर्षसहस्रेण: by/for a thousand divine years
• दिव्यवर्षसहस्रेण: करण (Instrument/measure: ‘for/by’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दिव्यानि वर्षाणि = दिव्यवर्ष; तेषां सहस्रेण); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (measure of time)

• तप्यमानाय: to the one doing austerity
• तप्यमानाय: सम्प्रदान (Dative recipient)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्/मान-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; ‘to him who was performing austerity/being heated (by tapas)’

• शूलधृक्: the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूलधृक्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु) + क्विप् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (शूलं धृक् ‘trident-bearer’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्वदेवाधिपः: lord of all gods
• सर्वदेवाधिपः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सर्वेषां देवानाम् अधिपः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to शूलधृक्

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी, एकवचन; Dative singular

• वरदः: a boon-giver
• वरदः: प्रेडिकेट (कर्तृसमानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate nominative with अस्मि

• अस्मि: I am
• अस्मि: क्रिया (copula)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अभाषत: spoke
• अभाषत: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भाष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/लङ्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; Śiva as Śūladhṛk and Sarvadevādhipa grants boons after prolonged tapas.

Significance: Affirms Śiva as ‘varada’—approach through devotion and discipline culminates in grace-bestowal.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: वरदोऽस्मि (varado’smi) — “I am your boon-giver.”

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Austerity duration marker: ‘a thousand divine years’ (divya-varṣa-sahasra) indicating supra-human tapas across cosmic time-scales.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights that sustained tapas, when aligned with devotion, culminates in Shiva’s anugraha (grace): the Pati personally acknowledges the seeker and becomes the bestower of spiritual and worldly fulfillment.

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva as “Śūladhṛk,” approachable and responsive to a devotee’s discipline—mirroring how Linga-worship provides a concrete focus through which the formless Supreme grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is steady tapas supported by japa and dhyāna—especially Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—performed with purity and perseverance until the mind becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.