Shloka 32

Indra’s Account: Shilada’s Tapas and Shiva’s Manifestation as Nandi

Devanagari script

अवतीर्णे सुते नन्दिन् रक्षार्थं मह्यमीश्वर तुभ्यं नमः सुरेशान नन्दीश्वर नमो ऽस्तु ते

Transliteration

avatīrṇe sute nandin rakṣārthaṃ mahyamīśvara tubhyaṃ namaḥ sureśāna nandīśvara namo 'stu te

Translation

„O Nandin — da mein Sohn zu meinem Schutz herabgestiegen ist — o Īśvara, Herr der Götter, vor Dir verneige ich mich. O Nandīśvara, Dir sei mein Gruß und meine Verehrung.“

Word by Word

• अवतीर्णे: having descended/manifested

• सुते: in the son/when the son

• नन्दिन्: O Nandin

• रक्षार्थम्: for the sake of protection

• मह्यम्: for me/to me

• ईश्वर: O Lord (Īśvara)

• तुभ्यम्: to You

• नमः: salutation

• सुरेशान: O Lord of the gods

• नन्दीश्वर: O Nandīśvara (Lord Nandi)

• नमोऽस्तु ते: may salutations be to You

Speaker

A devotee (within Suta’s narration) offering praise to Nandīśvara/Śiva for protective descent

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi (Nandishvara)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-oriented devotion as refuge: protection (rakṣā) comes through surrender to Īśvara and His foremost attendant Nandīśvara, who guards the path of worship and discipline.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is addressed as Īśvara and Sureśāna—Pati, the sovereign Lord—whose grace manifests as protective intervention, loosening the pasha (bondage) that threatens the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key practice is śaraṇāgati (devotional surrender) expressed through namas (salutation), a foundational attitude supporting Pāśupata discipline and steady Linga-pūjā.