Shloka 42

नभगोपाख्यानम्

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

Devanagari script

नभगश्च प्रणम्याशु साञ्जलिर्नतमस्तकः । प्रोवाच सुप्रसन्नात्मा विनयेन महामतिः

Transliteration

nabhagaśca praṇamyāśu sāñjalirnatamastakaḥ | provāca suprasannātmā vinayena mahāmatiḥ

Translation

于是那婆伽（Nabhaga）迅速顶礼；合掌低首。那位大心者、聪慧卓绝之人，心神澄然，便以谦恭之辞开口说道。

Word by Word

• नभगः: Nabhaga
• नभगः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

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

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: पूर्वकाल (absolutive relation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√नम् (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund) — 'having bowed'

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• साञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• साञ्जलिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणम् — 'with joined palms'

• नत: bowed
• नत: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक) < √नम् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे; समासाङ्ग (compound member); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle)

• मस्तकः: (one whose) head is bowed
• मस्तकः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मस्तक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (नत-मस्तकः = bowed-headed)

• प्रोवाच: said/spoke forth
• प्रोवाच: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• सु: very/well
• सु: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (prefix/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सु (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/निपात (intensifier) — 'well/very'

• प्रसन्न: pleased/serene
• प्रसन्न: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक) < प्र-√सद् (धातु) + क्त
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे; समासाङ्ग (compound member); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त

• आत्मा: one whose mind was very pleased
• आत्मा: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिसमासः (सु-प्रसन्न-आत्मा = whose mind is very pleased)

• विनयेन: with humility
• विनयेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• महा: great
• महा: सम्बन्ध (within compound)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• मतिः: great-minded (sage)
• मतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (महा + मति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; Nabhaga is the one who speaks next)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Nabhaga

FAQs

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

It highlights vinaya (humility) as a core Shaiva virtue: inner serenity and reverent surrender prepare the devotee to receive Shiva’s grace and right understanding.

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

The posture of añjali and bowed head reflects the proper devotional approach to Saguna Shiva—approaching the Lord (often as the Linga in Purāṇic practice) with reverence, purity of intention, and a softened ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra with añjali before Shiva (or the Linga), steady the mind into prasannatā (calm clarity), and then recite a Shiva mantra—especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with humility.