Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । मया सह पिता हृष्टः सुप्रणम्य महेश्वरम् । उटजं स्वं जगामाशु निधिं लब्ध्वेव निर्धनः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | mayā saha pitā hṛṣṭaḥ supraṇamya maheśvaram | uṭajaṃ svaṃ jagāmāśu nidhiṃ labdhveva nirdhanaḥ

Translation

نندییشور نے کہا: میرے ساتھ میرے والد خوشی سے بھر کر مہیشور کو خوب سجدۂ تعظیم کر کے فوراً اپنی کٹیا (آشرم) کو لوٹ گئے، جیسے مفلس کو اچانک خزانہ مل جائے۔

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश (speaker)

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

• मया: by me / with me
• मया: Sahakaraka (सहकारक/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakaraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सहार्थक उपपद (postposition ‘with’)

• पिता: father
• पिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हृष्टः: delighted
• हृष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (पिता)

• सुप्रणम्य: having bowed well
• सुप्रणम्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सु + प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having bowed well’

• महेश्वरम्: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उटजम्: hut
• उटजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उटज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (उटजम्)

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• निधिम्: treasure
• निधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having obtained’

• इव: as if/like
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, उपमानवाचक निपात (particle of comparison)

• निर्धनः: a poor man
• निर्धनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निर्धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमेय (one compared)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse depicts Śiva’s immediate bestowal of grace (anugraha) experienced as ‘treasure’ by the devotee, a common Purāṇic trope for darśana-phala.

Significance: Darśana of Maheśvara is framed as instant inner enrichment—turning ascetic poverty into spiritual wealth (jñāna/bhakti).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheśvara)
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the transformative joy that arises from humble surrender (praṇāma) to Maheśvara—Śiva’s grace makes the devotee feel inwardly enriched, as if poverty has turned into treasure.

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

By stressing reverent bowing to Maheśvara, it reflects Saguna Śiva-bhakti: approaching Śiva as the compassionate Lord who can be directly honored and experienced through worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple practice is indicated: offer heartfelt namaskāra to Śiva before daily duties—ideally alongside japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility and gratitude as the core of sādhana.