Shloka 1

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु ब्रह्मसुत प्राज्ञ वृषेशाख्यं मुनीश्वर । शिवावतारं सल्लीलं हरिगर्वहरं वरम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | śṛṇu brahmasuta prājña vṛṣeśākhyaṃ munīśvara | śivāvatāraṃ sallīlaṃ harigarvaharaṃ varam

Translation

Nandīśvara bersabda: “Dengarlah, wahai putera Brahmā yang bijaksana—wahai resi agung Vṛṣeśa. Aku akan menceritakan penjelmaan Śiva yang diberkati, sarat dengan lila ilahi, yang mulia dan merendahkan keangkuhan Hari (Viṣṇu).”

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

• ब्रह्म-सुत: O son of Brahmā
• ब्रह्म-सुत: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः सुतः)

• प्राज्ञ: O wise one
• प्राज्ञ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; विशेषण of ब्रह्म-सुत

• वृषेश-आख्यम्: named Vṛṣeśa
• वृषेश-आख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृषेश (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वृषेश इति आख्यः = ‘named Vṛṣeśa’) qualifying object (शिवावतारम्)

• मुनि-ईश्वर: O lord of sages
• मुनि-ईश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां ईश्वरः)

• शिव-अवतारम्: incarnation of Śiva
• शिव-अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य अवतारः)

• सत्-लीलम्: of noble play; with auspicious sport
• सत्-लीलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + लील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सत् एव लीलः = ‘noble/true in play’) qualifying शिव-अवतारम्

• हरि-गर्व-हरम्: remover of Hari’s pride
• हरि-गर्व-हरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरेः गर्वं हरति इति) qualifying शिव-अवतारम्

• वरम्: excellent; best
• वरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण of शिव-अवतारम्

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It introduces a Śiva-avatāra narrative whose core teaching is the dissolution of pride (ahaṅkāra). In Shaiva Siddhānta, humility before Pati (Śiva) loosens pāśa (bondage) and prepares the soul (paśu) for grace.

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

By highlighting Śiva’s avatāra and līlā, the verse points to Saguna Śiva—worshipped through form, name, and story—while implying the higher truth that all powers, even of Hari, rest in Śiva as the supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is ego-purification through devotion: listen (śravaṇa) to Śiva’s līlās with reverence, and support it with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” as a discipline of humility.