Shloka 20

Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्येवं वचनन्तस्य श्रुत्वा पार्थोर्जुनस्तदा । क्रोधं कृत्वा शिवं स्मृत्वा मितं वाक्यमथाब्रवीत्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityevaṃ vacanantasya śrutvā pārthorjunastadā | krodhaṃ kṛtvā śivaṃ smṛtvā mitaṃ vākyamathābravīt

Translation

Nandīśvara sprach: Als Pārtha (Arjuna) jene Worte vernommen hatte, geriet er in Zorn; doch, des Herrn Śiva eingedenk, redete er darauf mit maßvollen Worten.

Word by Word

नन्दीश्वरःNandīśvara

उवाचsaid

इतिthus

एवम्in this manner

वचनम्speech/words

तस्यof him/of that (person)

श्रुत्वाhaving heard

पार्थःson of Pṛthā (Arjuna)

अर्जुनःArjuna

तदाthen

क्रोधम्anger

कृत्वाhaving made (i.e., having become angry)

शिवम्Śiva

स्मृत्वाhaving remembered

मितम्measured/brief

वाक्यम्statement

अथthen

अब्रवीत्spoke

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

Nandishvara

Arjuna

Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even when strong emotions arise, remembrance of Śiva steadies the mind and speech—an inner Shaiva discipline where devotion (smaraṇa) converts impulse into dharmic restraint.

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

Remembering Śiva here reflects Saguna upāsanā—holding the Lord’s form and presence in awareness—just as a devotee recollects Śiva through the Liṅga, mantra, and daily worship, which calms agitation and aligns action with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa and smaraṇa—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") when anger arises, pausing to speak only after the mind becomes steady.