Shloka 26
द्वन्द्वयुद्धवर्णनम् / Description of the Duel-Combats
स नन्दी कार्तिकेयश्च समायातौ त्वरान्वितौ । जघ्नतुश्च रणे दैत्यान्निरंतरशरव्रजैः । छिन्नैर्भिन्नैर्हतैर्दैत्यैः पतितैर्भक्षितैस्तथा । व्याकुला साभवत्सेना विषण्णवदना तदा
sa nandī kārtikeyaśca samāyātau tvarānvitau | jaghnatuśca raṇe daityānniraṃtaraśaravrajaiḥ | chinnairbhinnairhatairdaityaiḥ patitairbhakṣitaistathā | vyākulā sābhavatsenā viṣaṇṇavadanā tadā
Then Nandī and Kārtikeya arrived in haste. In the battle they struck down the Dānavas with unceasing volleys of arrows. As the demons were cut, split, and slain—some falling, some even being devoured—their army grew shaken and bewildered, and at that time their faces turned despondent.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka
FAQs
It depicts the triumph of Śiva’s śakti in action through Nandin and Skanda: when dharma is upheld, adharma loses its footing—symbolized by the demon army’s collapse into fear and confusion.
Nandin and Kārtikeya are Saguna expressions of Śiva’s protective grace (anugraha). Remembering them in Linga-worship reinforces the devotee’s trust that the Lord’s power removes inner ‘demonic’ tendencies—anger, pride, and delusion.
A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) or wearing rudrākṣa—cultivating fearless devotion as the inner battle is faced.