Shloka 1

नभगोपाख्यानम्

Nabhaga-Upākhyāna: The Account of Nabhaga and Shiva-Jñāna

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । सनत्कुमार शम्भोस्त्ववतारं परमं शृणु । नभगज्ञानदं कृष्णदर्शनाह्वयमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | sanatkumāra śambhostvavatāraṃ paramaṃ śṛṇu | nabhagajñānadaṃ kṛṣṇadarśanāhvayamuttamam

Translation

నందీశ్వరుడు పలికెను— హే సనత్కుమార, శంభువు యొక్క పరమ అవతారాన్ని వినుము. అది నభాగునికి జ్ఞానమిచ్చేది, ‘కృష్ణదర్శన’మని ప్రసిద్ధి, అత్యుత్తమము.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (नन्दी + ईश्वर)

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

• सनत्कुमार: O Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमार: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (सनत् + कुमार)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• त्व: indeed/now (emphasis)
• त्व: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्व (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: निपात (particle), बलार्थ/सम्बोधन-समर्थक; ‘तु/त्व’ इव प्रयोगः (emphatic particle)

• अवतारम्: incarnation
• अवतारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवतार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• परमम्: supreme
• परमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies अवतारम्)

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

• नभग-ज्ञान-दम्: giving knowledge of Nabhaga
• नभग-ज्ञान-दम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (नभगस्य ज्ञानं ददाति इति/ज्ञानद)

• कृष्ण-दर्शन-आह्वयम्: called ‘Kṛṣṇa-darśana’
• कृष्ण-दर्शन-आह्वयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + आह्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कृष्णस्य दर्शनम्; तद्-आह्वयम् = ‘named/called’)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifies अवतारम्/आह्वयम्)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Introduces a new avatāra-kathā (‘Kṛṣṇa-darśana’) whose core function is jñāna-pradāna (bestowal of liberating knowledge) to Nabhāga—an anugraha-centered episode rather than a liṅga-sthala origin.

Significance: Hearing the avatāra that grants jñāna is treated as a śivānugraha-upāya; it models guru-to-śiṣya transmission (Nandīśvara → Sanatkumāra).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Sanatkumara
• Nabhaga
• Krishna

FAQs

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

The verse frames Shiva’s avatāra as a compassionate revelation meant to awaken jñāna (liberating knowledge). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, Śiva (Pati) removes bondage by granting grace through sacred instruction and divine vision (darśana).

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

By announcing an avatāra and a named ‘darśana,’ the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva approachable through form, narrative, and encounter. Such darśana-oriented devotion naturally supports Linga worship as a concrete focus for receiving Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa (reverent listening) leading to darśana and jñāna—practically supported by daily Shiva pūjā to the Liṅga, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and contemplative remembrance of Shiva’s grace-bestowing forms.