Shloka 37

Svagati-varṇana

Description of the Supreme State / One’s True Attainment

Devanagari script

नंदी शूलं समादाय भवाग्रे समवस्थितः । सर्वभूतगणाश्चैवं मातरो विविधाः स्थिताः

Transliteration

naṃdī śūlaṃ samādāya bhavāgre samavasthitaḥ | sarvabhūtagaṇāścaivaṃ mātaro vividhāḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

Nandī, tomando o triśūla (tridente), permaneceu postado à frente de Bhava (o Senhor Śiva). Do mesmo modo, todas as hostes de seres e as diversas Mães divinas (Matṛkās) ficaram ali dispostas.

Word by Word

• नन्दी: Nandī
• नन्दी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• शूलम्: trident
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्म

• समादाय: having taken
• समादाय: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययकृदन्त; √दा (3P) उपसर्ग: सम्+आ

• भवाग्रे: in front of Bhava (Śiva)
• भवाग्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव-अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भवस्य अग्रे); अधिकरण

• समवस्थितः: stood stationed
• समवस्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-अव-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; √स्था with उपसर्ग सम्+अव; 'stood/was positioned'

• सर्वभूतगणाः: all groups of beings
• सर्वभूतगणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-भूत-गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भूतानां गणाः; सर्वभूतानां गणाः); कर्तृपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/रीतिवाचक (thus/in this manner)

• मातरः: the Mothers (Mātṛkās)
• मातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्तृपद

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (मातरः)

• स्थिताः: stood/were present
• स्थिताः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; √स्था; 'stood/were present'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; depicts Nandī and the gaṇas/mātṛkās stationed before Bhava, a classic Śaiva parivāra tableau.

Significance: Nandī-darśana as threshold devotion: approaching Śiva through the foremost attendant symbolizes disciplic access and humility.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Matrikas

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Śiva (Pati) as the sovereign refuge, attended by His disciplined gaṇas and empowered by the Mothers (Śakti). In Śaiva Siddhānta terms, it emphasizes divine order: Śiva’s will (icchā) is supported by His retinue, showing that protection and grace flow from the Lord together with Śakti.

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

It supports Saguna Śiva-bhakti by depicting the Lord in a concrete, worshipful form—Bhava—surrounded by Nandī and divine attendants. In Liṅga worship, devotees similarly approach Śiva with reverence, acknowledging His guardianship and the presence of Śakti and the gaṇas as part of the sacred Śaiva ecosystem.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to begin Śiva-pūjā with Nandī-smaraṇa (remembering Nandī as the foremost attendant) and to meditate on Śiva with His śūla as the remover of pāśa (bondage). If practiced, recite the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing Śiva before you, protected and served by His gaṇas and Śaktis.