Shloka 18

नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”

Devanagari script

गते तस्मिंश्च वरदे सहस्राक्षे शिलाशनः । आराधयन्महादेवं तपसातोषयद्भवम्

Transliteration

gate tasmiṃśca varade sahasrākṣe śilāśanaḥ | ārādhayanmahādevaṃ tapasātoṣayadbhavam

Translation

వరదాత సహస్రాక్షుడు వెళ్లిపోయిన తరువాత, శిలపై ఆసనమేసిన ఆ ముని మహాదేవుని నిరంతరం ఆరాధిస్తూ, తన తపస్సుతో భవుడు (శివుడు)ను ప్రసన్నుడిని చేశాడు।

Word by Word

• gate: when (he) had gone
• gate: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gam (धातु) → gata (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP) used in locative absolute; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); Masculine/Neuter (context: 'when (he) had gone')

• tasmin: in him/when he
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

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

• varade: (when) the boon-giver
• varade: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); epithet 'giver of boons' (used in locative absolute/apposition)

• sahasrākṣe: (when) Sahasrākṣa (Indra)
• sahasrākṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative absolute qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahasra + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); epithet 'thousand-eyed' (Indra)

• śilāśanaḥ: Śilāśana (stone-seated one)
• śilāśanaḥ: Kartā (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā + āśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'one whose seat/food is stone' (name/epithet)

• ārādhayan: worshipping
• ārādhayan: Kartā (कर्ता/Agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + rādh (धातु) → ārādhayat (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/PrAP); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śilāśanaḥ

• mahādevam: Mahādeva
• mahādevam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tapasā: by austerity
• tapasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tapas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• toṣayat: pleasing
• toṣayat: Kartā (कर्ता/Agent-participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tuṣ (धातु) → toṣayat (णिच् causative present participle शतृ)
• Form: Causative present active participle (णिच् + शतृ/PrAP); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with śilāśanaḥ

• bhavam: Bhava (Śiva)
• bhavam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes tapas and ārādhana as preparatory disciplines; in Siddhānta, such sādhana ripens the paśu for Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra

FAQs

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

It teaches that even after worldly boons and divine encounters pass, steady tapas and arādhana directed to Pati (Śiva) are what truly ripen the soul (paśu) toward grace and inner purification.

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

The verse highlights ārādhana of Mahādeva—Saguna Śiva approached through devoted practice; in the Purāṇic context this is commonly expressed through Liṅga-upāsanā, where disciplined worship and austerity become a means to receive Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is sustained tapas with focused Śiva-arādhana—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with simple ascetic steadiness and daily worship, as the core discipline implied by “tapasā toṣayat bhavam.”