Shloka 21
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवं विज्ञापयन्प्रीत्या शङ्करं नरकेसरी । नत्वाऽशक्तोऽभवद्विष्णु जीवितान्त पराजितः
nandīśvara uvāca | evaṃ vijñāpayanprītyā śaṅkaraṃ narakesarī | natvā'śakto'bhavadviṣṇu jīvitānta parājitaḥ
Nandīśvara said: Thus, having addressed Śaṅkara with loving devotion, Narakeśarī bowed in reverence. Then Viṣṇu became powerless—utterly defeated, as though his very life-breath had reached its end.
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It emphasizes Shaiva Siddhanta’s core truth that Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) alone is the ultimate source of power; even great deities become ineffective when divine will is opposed, and humility before Śaṅkara restores right orientation.
By portraying Śaṅkara as the decisive Lord before whom even Viṣṇu is rendered powerless, the verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—approaching the manifest Lord (often as the Liṅga) with reverence, surrender, and devotion.
The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed through namaskāra and steady japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—supported by Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to devotion.