Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 32

शिवस्तुतिवर्णनम् (Śiva-stuti-varṇanam) — “Description of Hymns in Praise of Śiva”

Devanagari script

विष्णुमालिंग्य नंदिशादवरुह्य प्रसन्नधीः । ददर्श सुदृशा तत्र नन्दीदत्तकरोऽखिलान्

Transliteration

viṣṇumāliṃgya naṃdiśādavaruhya prasannadhīḥ | dadarśa sudṛśā tatra nandīdattakaro'khilān

Translation

Abraçando Viṣṇu e descendo de Nandīśa (Nandī), com a mente serena e jubilosa, aquele de belos olhos viu ali a todos—pois Nandī lhes havia concedido auxílio.

Word by Word

• viṣṇum: Viṣṇu (as object)
• viṣṇum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• āliṅgya: having embraced
• āliṅgya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-liṅg (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘आलिङ्ग्य’ = having embraced

• nandiśāt: from Nandiśa (Nandin)
• nandiśāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandiśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• avaruhya: having descended
• avaruhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-ruh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘अवरुह्य’ = having descended

• prasanna-dhīḥ: one whose mind was pleased/serene
• prasanna-dhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक) + dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘प्रसन्ना धिः यस्याः/यस्य’ (here agreeing with implied subject)

• dadarśa: saw
• dadarśa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• su-dṛśā: with a beautiful gaze
• su-dṛśā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘सु-दृशा’ = with a beautiful look/with good sight

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• nandī-datta-karaḥ: (he) whose hand was given/held by Nandin
• nandī-datta-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (कृदन्त, √dā) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘नन्दिना दत्तः करः यस्य’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत्

• akhilān: all (of them)
• akhilān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights anugraha (grace) expressed through Shiva’s attendant Nandī: divine help arrives when the mind becomes prasanna (clear and receptive), showing that spiritual progress and protection come through Shiva’s compassionate agency.

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

Nandī is inseparably linked with Saguna Shiva worship—devotees traditionally honor Nandī before approaching the Shiva-liṅga. The verse reinforces that approaching Shiva’s realm is facilitated through Shiva’s embodied presence and attendants, not merely abstract contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate prasannatā (inner serenity) through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and begin liṅga-darśana with respectful remembrance of Nandī, seeking steady devotion and divine guidance.