Shloka 37

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

अनुग्रहार्थमायातस्तव तद्रूपतः प्रभुः । तत्र त्वं गच्छ नभग प्रसन्नं कुरु सत्यतः

Transliteration

anugrahārthamāyātastava tadrūpataḥ prabhuḥ | tatra tvaṃ gaccha nabhaga prasannaṃ kuru satyataḥ

Translation

เพื่อประทานพระกรุณาแก่ท่าน พระผู้เป็นเจ้าจึงเสด็จมาที่นั่นในรูปนั้นเอง เพราะฉะนั้น โอ นภคะ จงไปยังที่นั้น และด้วยความจริงใจจงทำให้พระองค์ทรงพอพระทัย

Word by Word

• anugraha-artham: for (the sake of) grace
• anugraha-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugraha + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) 'anugrahasya arthaḥ'; Neuter, Accusative, Singular; purpose accusative

• āyātaḥ: has come/arrived
• āyātaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√yā (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्तवतु/क्त) in adjectival use; Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'having come/arrived'

• tava: for you/of you
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध-षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Genitive (षष्ठी), Singular

• tad-rūpataḥ: in that form/accordingly
• tad-rūpataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad + rūpataḥ (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb in -taḥ (तः-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय) with demonstrative tad-; 'in that form/accordingly'

• prabhuḥ: the Lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Locative adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular

• gaccha: go
• gaccha: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• nabhaga: O Nabhaga
• nabhaga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nabhaga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular; address

• prasannam: pleased/propitious
• prasannam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prasanna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; used as object-complement with kuru: 'make (it) pleased/propitious'

• kuru: make/do
• kuru: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), Parasmaipada, 2nd person, Singular

• satyataḥ: truly
• satyataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satyataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablatival adverb in -taḥ (तः-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय) meaning 'truly/in truth'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shatarudra Samhita account)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva’s descent/manifestation as pure anugraha (grace): the devotee is instructed to approach the manifested Lord and win prasāda through truthful, direct devotion.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Śiva’s anugraha (saving grace): the Lord freely assumes a manifest form for the devotee’s upliftment, and sincere truthfulness (satyataḥ) with devotion is presented as the direct means to receive His favor.

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

The verse highlights saguṇa upāsanā—Śiva appearing “in that very form” for the devotee. This supports Shiva Purana’s teaching that worship of Śiva in a perceivable form (including the Śiva-liṅga) is a compassionate doorway to His transcendence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to approach Śiva with truthful intent and devotion—performing simple pūjā to the liṅga, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), and prayer for prasāda (Śiva’s pleased grace).