Shloka 59

Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा निजहस्तं च धृत्वा शिरसि तस्य सः । पूजितो ह्यर्जुनेनाशु शंकरोन्तरधीयत

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā nijahastaṃ ca dhṛtvā śirasi tasya saḥ | pūjito hyarjunenāśu śaṃkarontaradhīyata

Translation

นันทีศวรกล่าวว่า—ครั้นตรัสดังนี้แล้ว พระศังกรผู้เป็นภควานทรงวางพระหัตถ์ของพระองค์บนเศียรของอรชุน ครั้นอรชุนบูชาด้วยพิธีอันถูกต้องแล้ว พระศังกรก็อันตรธานไปโดยฉับพลัน.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

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

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: इति-शब्दः, वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• निज: own
• निज: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• हस्तम्: hand
• हस्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• धृत्वा: having placed/held
• धृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया

• शिरसि: on (the) head
• शिरसि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

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

• पूजितः: (having been) worshipped
• पूजितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/निश्चयार्थ

• अर्जुनेन: by Arjuna
• अर्जुनेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शंकरः: Śaṅkara
• शंकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अन्तरधीयत: disappeared
• अन्तरधीयत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अन्तर्धा (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara
• Shiva
• Shankara
• Arjuna

FAQs

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

Śiva’s placing His hand on Arjuna’s head signifies anugraha (divine grace): the Lord, as Pati, directly blesses the devotee, confirming acceptance of worship and inner readiness for His guidance.

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

The verse shows Saguna Śiva responding to personal devotion—He is worshipped, grants a tangible sign of blessing, and then withdraws from sight, indicating that ritual and devotion culminate in grace rather than mere external vision.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer sincere pūjā to Śiva (with mantra-japa such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya), then meditate on receiving His anugraha—symbolically ‘Śiva’s hand on the head’—as steadiness, humility, and inner quiet after worship.