Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
एवं निर्भत्सितस्तेन नन्दिना हि प्रजापतिः । नन्दिनं च शशापाथ दक्षो रोषसमन्वितः
evaṃ nirbhatsitastena nandinā hi prajāpatiḥ | nandinaṃ ca śaśāpātha dakṣo roṣasamanvitaḥ
Ainsi, réprimandé par Nandin, le Prajāpati Dakṣa—submergé de colère—se mit alors à maudire Nandin à son tour.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Daksha–Nandin episode to the sages)
Tattva Level: pasha
Significance: Illustrates how ego and anger (krodha) corrupt ritual space; pilgrimage/ritual without inner purification leads to further bondage rather than merit.
FAQs
The verse highlights how pride and anger (roṣa) lead to aparādha against Shiva’s devotees; in Shaiva understanding, disrespect toward the Lord’s bhaktas obstructs dharma and invites karmic consequences.
Nandin is intimately connected with Saguna Shiva worship as Shiva’s foremost attendant and gatekeeper; the narrative teaches that true Linga-bhakti includes reverence for Shiva’s parivāra and devotees, not merely external ritual.
Cultivate humility while doing Shiva-puja—begin with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offer respectful salutations to Nandi before Linga-darśana, avoiding harsh speech and devotional offenses.