Shloka 52

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

महाज्ञानी भव त्वं हि सविप्रो नभगं द्रुतम् । गृहाण वस्त्विदं सर्वं मद्दत्तं कृपयाधुना

Transliteration

mahājñānī bhava tvaṃ hi savipro nabhagaṃ drutam | gṛhāṇa vastvidaṃ sarvaṃ maddattaṃ kṛpayādhunā

Translation

ఓ నభగ! నీవు త్వరగా మహాజ్ఞానిగా, సత్య బ్రాహ్మణుడిగా అవు. ఇప్పుడు నా కరుణవల్ల, నేను ఇచ్చిన ఈ సమస్త ధనసంపదను స్వీకరించు।

Word by Word

• महाज्ञानी: a great knower
• महाज्ञानी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā + ज्ञानी (प्रातिपदिक: ज्ञानी from √ज्ञा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् ज्ञानी)

• भव: be
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक (indeed/for)

• सविप्रः: along with the brahmin
• सविप्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सहितः विप्रः)

• नभगम्: Nabhaga (name)
• नभगम्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative sense despite acc. form)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (सम्बोधन-नाम/व्यक्ति-नाम)

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• द्रुतम्: Prakāra (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोग/क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative: quickly)

• गृहाण: take, accept
• गृहाण: Kriyā (क्रिया/Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वस्तु: thing, object
• वस्तु: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; sandhi before इदम्

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Determiner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मत्-दत्तम्: given by me
• मत्-दत्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी) + दत्त (कृदन्त from √दा)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) 'given'; तत्पुरुष (मया दत्तम्)

• कृपया: with compassion
• कृपया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृपा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ/साधन-भाव (by/with compassion)

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kāla (काल/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: now)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the direct speaker in the verse is inferred as an elder/giver addressing Nabhaga)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a didactic moment where worldly wealth is subordinated to brahma-jñāna and vipra-dharma, framing prosperity as an instrument for dharma rather than bondage.

Significance: General Śaiva teaching: dāna and right conduct, when aligned with Śiva’s grace, purify the paśu and prepare for higher realization.

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse links true greatness to mahājñāna (liberating knowledge) and compassion, showing that spiritual maturity includes both inner realization and dharmic conduct, not mere possession.

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

In the Shaiva Purana framework, the capacity for jñāna and compassionate giving is understood as Shiva’s anugraha (grace). Such purification supports worthy Linga-worship by reducing attachment and strengthening devotion and discipline.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is dana with humility and a jñāna-oriented life—supported by daily Shiva-smaraṇa and mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, "Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to transform wealth into a means of purification.