Shloka 24
नन्दिकेश्वरशिवलिङ्गमाहात्म्यवर्णनम्
The Māhātmya of the Nandikeśvara Śiva-liṅga
सूत उवाच । इति स्तुत्वा महादेवमृषिका सा शुभव्रता । तूष्णीमासाथ गिरिशः प्रोवाच करुणाकरः
sūta uvāca | iti stutvā mahādevamṛṣikā sā śubhavratā | tūṣṇīmāsātha giriśaḥ provāca karuṇākaraḥ
Sūta sprach: Nachdem jene Rishi-Frau mit glückverheißenden Gelübden Mahādeva so gepriesen hatte, schwieg sie. Daraufhin sprach Girīśa, der Herr, ein Quell des Erbarmens.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Narrative hinge: after stuti, the devotee/ṛṣikā becomes silent; Śiva, ‘karuṇākara’, prepares to respond—typical prelude to granting boons and/or establishing a sacred presence.
Significance: Highlights the purāṇic pattern: stuti → mauna → īśvara-vākya (divine reply), legitimizing the ensuing kṣetra-māhātmya.
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva principle that sincere stuti (devotional praise) followed by inner silence makes the seeker receptive to Śiva’s anugraha (grace), after which the compassionate Lord reveals guidance.
The verse presents Saguna Śiva (Girīśa, Karuṇākara) responding personally to devotion—mirroring how Linga-worship is not mere symbol but a grace-bearing encounter where the Lord ‘speaks’ through blessings, insight, and instruction.
Offer stuti/japa with bhakti, then sit in tūṣṇī-bhāva (quiet, attentive stillness) to receive Śiva’s inner prompting—ideally alongside Shaiva supports like Panchākṣarī japa and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma dhāraṇa where appropriate.