Shloka 1

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अथ प्रीत्या शृणु मुनेऽवतारं परमं प्रभोः । शंकरस्यात्मभूपुत्र शृण्वतां सर्वकामदम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | atha prītyā śṛṇu mune'vatāraṃ paramaṃ prabhoḥ | śaṃkarasyātmabhūputra śṛṇvatāṃ sarvakāmadam

Translation

نندییشور نے کہا—اے مُنی، اب محبت و عقیدت سے پربھو کے اعلیٰ ترین اوتار کو سنو۔ اے آتم بھو کے پتر، شنکر کے دیویہ ظہور کا شروَن کرو؛ اس کا سننا سننے والوں کو سب مرادیں عطا کرتا ہے۔

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समास: नन्दिन् + ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/‘Nandin’s lord’ as name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then, now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक/मङ्गलार्थक-अव्यय)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• avatāram: incarnation, descent
• avatāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with avatāram

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātmabhūputra: O son of Ātmabhū (Brahmā)
• ātmabhūputra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmabhū + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); समास: आत्मभू (ब्रह्मा) + पुत्र = ‘son of Ātmabhū’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• śṛṇvatām: of those who listen
• śṛṇvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śru (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त) used substantively; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvakāmadam: granting all desires
• sarvakāmadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + kāma + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with (implicit) ‘kathā/avatāra-vṛtta’; समास: सर्व + काम + द = ‘giver of all desires’ (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; it functions as a narrative gateway where Nandīśvara introduces a supreme avatāra/manifestation of Śaṅkara whose hearing grants desired aims.

Significance: Encourages kathā-śravaṇa as a pilgrimage of hearing (śravaṇa-yātrā), a Siddhānta-friendly upāya preparing the soul for Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a direct spiritual practice: hearing Śiva’s supreme manifestations purifies the listener and can grant all aims—culminating in grace-oriented liberation (mokṣa) in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

By praising the Lord’s avatāra-kathā, it points to Saguna Śiva—Śaṅkara who compassionately becomes knowable through forms, stories, and worship; such hearing supports faith that naturally matures into Linga-centered devotion and inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is devoted listening/recitation of Shiva Purana narratives (śravaṇa–kīrtana) with prīti (loving attention), ideally alongside remembrance of Shiva’s name or the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).