Shloka 59
Śiva–Arjuna Yuddha and the Subjugation of Pride (Śiva-parīkṣā)
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा निजहस्तं च धृत्वा शिरसि तस्य सः । पूजितो ह्यर्जुनेनाशु शंकरोन्तरधीयत
nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā nijahastaṃ ca dhṛtvā śirasi tasya saḥ | pūjito hyarjunenāśu śaṃkarontaradhīyata
Dijo Nandīśvara: Habiendo hablado así, Śaṅkara puso Su propia mano sobre la cabeza de Arjuna. Luego, tras ser debidamente adorado por Arjuna, el Señor Śaṅkara desapareció presto de la vista.
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
Śiva’s placing His hand on Arjuna’s head signifies anugraha (divine grace): the Lord, as Pati, directly blesses the devotee, confirming acceptance of worship and inner readiness for His guidance.
The verse shows Saguna Śiva responding to personal devotion—He is worshipped, grants a tangible sign of blessing, and then withdraws from sight, indicating that ritual and devotion culminate in grace rather than mere external vision.
Offer sincere pūjā to Śiva (with mantra-japa such as Om Namaḥ Śivāya), then meditate on receiving His anugraha—symbolically ‘Śiva’s hand on the head’—as steadiness, humility, and inner quiet after worship.