Shloka 25

Droṇācārya’s Tapas and the Manifestation of Śiva: The Birth-Grant of Aśvatthāmā (अश्वत्थामा-अवतार-प्रसङ्गः)

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । श्रुत्वार्जुनवचश्चेदं स कृष्णश्शैवसत्तमः । दध्यौ शिवं सदारं च प्रत्याहार्जुनमादरात्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | śrutvārjunavacaścedaṃ sa kṛṣṇaśśaivasattamaḥ | dadhyau śivaṃ sadāraṃ ca pratyāhārjunamādarāt

Translation

นันทีศวรกล่าวว่า—ครั้นได้สดับถ้อยคำของอรชุนแล้ว พระกฤษณะผู้ประเสริฐในหมู่ศิวภักตะ ได้เพ่งฌานพระศิวะพร้อมพระเทวี แล้วจึงตอบอรชุนด้วยความเคารพ

Word by Word

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

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

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund)

• अर्जुनवचः: Arjuna’s words
• अर्जुनवचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः अर्जुनस्य वचः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• शैवसत्तमः: the best among Śaivas
• शैवसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शैव + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः शैवानां सत्तमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• दध्यौ: meditated/thought
• दध्यौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• सदारम्: together with (his) consort
• सदारम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + दार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः सः दारः यस्य (सदारः) इति—कर्मधारय-प्रयोगः (with wife)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रत्याह: replied
• प्रत्याह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + आ + अह्/ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अर्जुनम्: to Arjuna
• अर्जुनम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models Śiva-smaraṇa as the highest refuge; hearing/reciting this episode is framed in Purāṇic tradition as fear-removing and bhakti-enhancing.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara
• Arjuna
• Krishna
• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It shows the Shaiva ideal of beginning one’s response and action with reverent remembrance (dhyāna) of Pati—Lord Shiva—recognizing Shiva as the supreme refuge and inner guide; Krishna is praised as śaiva-sattamaḥ for this devotional orientation.

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

The verse highlights Saguna contemplation—meditating on Shiva ‘with His Consort’ (Umā-Parameśvara). This aligns with devotional worship where the Linga is revered as Shiva’s manifest presence and is approached with bhakti, purity of mind, and respectful intention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to perform brief Shiva-dhyāna before speaking or undertaking important acts—mentally invoking Shiva with Umā, or reciting a short mantra such as the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused reverence.