Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं तच्छ्रुत्वा च शिलाशनः । हर्षगद्गदया वाचोवाच सोमविभूषणम्

Transliteration

tataḥ praṇamya deveśaṃ tacchrutvā ca śilāśanaḥ | harṣagadgadayā vācovāca somavibhūṣaṇam

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ശിലാശനൻ ദേവേശനെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു; ആ വചനങ്ങൾ കേട്ട് ആനന്ദത്തിൽ ഗദ്ഗദമായ വാക്കുകളോടെ ചന്ദ്രഭൂഷണനായ പ്രഭു ശിവനോട് പറഞ്ഞു।

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having bowed'

• देवेशं: the Lord of gods
• देवेशं: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; देव + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'देवानाम् ईशः' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having heard'

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिलाशनः: Śilāśana (a proper name)
• शिलाशनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिला-आशन (प्रातिपदिक; शिला + आशन)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'शिलाम् आशनम् यस्य/शिलाम् अश्नाति' इति रूढि-नाम; कर्तृपद

• हर्षगद्गदया: with a joy-choked
• हर्षगद्गदया: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हर्ष-गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक; हर्ष + गद्गद)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (वाचा); 'हर्षेण गद्गदा' (कर्मधारय)

• वाचा: with speech/voice
• वाचा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्/वाक् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सोमविभूषणम्: the one adorned with the moon (Śiva)
• सोमविभूषणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम-विभूषण (प्रातिपदिक; सोम + विभूषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'सोमः विभूषणं यस्य' इति बहुव्रीह्यर्थे रूढि, परन्तु रूपेण षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-समास-प्रयोगः; संबोधित-देव (object of speech)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue; Śilāśana is about to speak to Lord Shiva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Nilakantha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): the devotee first bows to Deveśa, then speaks with a heart softened by bhakti—showing that grace and right speech arise from reverent submission to Śiva.

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

By addressing Śiva as Somavibhūṣaṇa (Moon-adorned), the verse emphasizes Saguna upāsanā—devotion to Śiva with attributes—often expressed through Linga worship, prayers, and personal dialogue with the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin worship with praṇāma (prostration) and inward humility; then offer prayer or japa with emotional sincerity—supporting practices like chanting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with focused devotion.