Shloka 111

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

राजसं मंडपं तत्र नंदीसंस्थानमुत्तमम् । तपोरूपश्च वृषभस्तत्रैव परिदृश्यते

Transliteration

rājasaṃ maṃḍapaṃ tatra naṃdīsaṃsthānamuttamam | taporūpaśca vṛṣabhastatraiva paridṛśyate

Translation

ସେଠାରେ ରାଜସ ଐଶ୍ୱର୍ୟରେ ଦୀପ୍ତ ମଣ୍ଡପ ଦେଖାଯାଏ, ଏବଂ ସେଠାରେ ନନ୍ଦୀଙ୍କ ଉତ୍ତମ ସ୍ଥାନ ମଧ୍ୟ ଅଛି। ସେହି ସ୍ଥାନରେ ତପସ୍ସ୍ୱରୂପ ବୃଷଭ—ନନ୍ଦୀ—ମଧ୍ୟ ଦର୍ଶନ ଦେଉଛନ୍ତି।

Word by Word

• rājasam: royal/splendid
• rājasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rājasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (qualifying maṇḍapam)

• maṇḍapam: pavilion
• maṇḍapam: Karma (कर्म/Object) (of implied ‘(one sees/there is)’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• nandī-saṃsthānam: the seat/abode of Nandī
• nandī-saṃsthānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃsthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (genitive relation): “Nandī’s abode/seat”; Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• uttamam: excellent
• uttamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन) (qualifying nandī-saṃsthānam)

• tapo-rūpaḥ: austerity-formed
• tapo-rūpaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष): “having the form of austerity”; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन) (qualifying vṛṣabhaḥ)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vṛṣabhaḥ: the bull (Nandī)
• vṛṣabhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis/restriction (अवधारण)

• paridṛśyate: is seen/appears
• paridṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धा॒तु) with pari-
• Form: Laṭ (लट्/Present), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); Passive-like sense “is seen/appears”

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Nandī not merely as Shiva’s vehicle but as the embodiment of tapas—disciplined devotion—showing that steadfast austerity and service at Shiva’s sacred presence lead the seeker toward grace and liberation.

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

The verse situates Nandī’s exalted seat within the sacred space (maṇḍapa) associated with Shiva’s worship, implying the traditional Shaiva approach: approach Saguna Shiva (as worshiped in the shrine/mandapa and Linga) with humility, discipline, and devoted attendance like Nandī.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests cultivating tapas and bhakti: sit with steadiness and restraint, mentally take refuge in Shiva, and practice mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the attitude of service exemplified by Nandī.