Shloka 143

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

वृषमारुह्य सुश्वेतं ययौ तस्याज्ञया तदा ततो वै नन्दिनं दृष्ट्वा गणः कुम्भोदरो ऽपि सः

Transliteration

vṛṣamāruhya suśvetaṃ yayau tasyājñayā tadā tato vai nandinaṃ dṛṣṭvā gaṇaḥ kumbhodaro 'pi saḥ

Translation

Auf den strahlend weißen Stier steigend, brach er sogleich nach dem Befehl seines Herrn auf. Dann, als er Nandin erblickte, trat auch der Gaṇa Kumbhodara herzu und folgte, das Geheiß des obersten Dieners Śivas anerkennend.

Word by Word

• वृषम् (vṛṣam): the bull (Śiva’s vāhana)

• आरुह्य (āruhya): having mounted

• सुश्वेतम् (suśvetam): very white, brilliantly white

• ययौ (yayau): went, set forth

• तस्य (tasya): of him/that Lord (Śiva)

• आज्ञया (ājñayā): by the command

• तदा (tadā): then, at that time

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter

• वै (vai): indeed

• नन्दिनम् (nandinam): Nandin

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• गणः (gaṇaḥ): the gaṇa, attendant of Śiva

• कुम्भोदरः (kumbhodaraḥ): Kumbhodara (name of a gaṇa)

• अपि (api): also

• सः (saḥ): he

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandin
• Kumbhodara

FAQs

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

It highlights ājñā (Śiva’s command) and gaṇa-dharma—devotional discipline and obedience—showing that service to Pati (Śiva) through his ordained order (symbolized by Nandin and the bull) is integral to Shaiva practice surrounding Linga worship.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose command governs the movement of his attendants. The verse implies divine order (niyati) flowing from Śiva, with Nandin functioning as the authoritative channel of that will.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pāśupata-aligned takeaway is śaraṇāgati and sevā: acting by the Guru/Lord’s instruction (ājñā) and honoring Śiva’s retinue (especially Nandin), which supports inner discipline alongside external worship.