Indra’s Account: Shilada’s Tapas and Shiva’s Manifestation as Nandi
ऋषयो मुनिशार्दूल ऋग्यजुःसामसंभवैः मन्त्रैर्माहेश्वरैः स्तुत्वा सम्प्रणेमुर्मुदान्विताः
ṛṣayo muniśārdūla ṛgyajuḥsāmasaṃbhavaiḥ mantrairmāheśvaraiḥ stutvā sampraṇemurmudānvitāḥ
يا نمرَ الحكماء! إنّ الرِّشيّين—بعد أن سبّحوا مهاديڤا بمانتراتِ ماهيشڤرا المولودة من رِغ ويَجُر وسامَ ڤيدا—خرّوا ساجدين سجودًا تامًّا، وقلوبُهم مغمورةٌ بالفرح.
Suta Goswami
It establishes that Linga-oriented devotion is grounded in Vedic authority: the sages praise Śiva with Ṛg–Yajur–Sāma-derived Maheśvara mantras and complete the act with reverent prostration, a core gesture in Linga-pūjā.
Śiva is presented as Pati (the Lord) who is worthy of Vedic stuti; the joy and surrender of the Ṛṣis implies His grace-bestowing sovereignty that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (individual soul) through devotion and mantra.
Mantra-stuti followed by sampraṇāma (complete prostration) is highlighted—an essential worship-sequence that aligns with Pāśupata discipline: praise (stotra/mantra), humility, and surrender to Mahādeva.