Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6
शुक्रनिग्रहः — The Seizure/Neutralization of Śukra (Kāvya) and the Daityas’ Despondency
नन्दिना चा हृते शुक्रे गिलिते च विषादिना । विषादमगमन्दैत्या यतमानरणोत्सवाः
nandinā cā hṛte śukre gilite ca viṣādinā | viṣādamagamandaityā yatamānaraṇotsavāḥ
Lorsque Nandin leur eut ravi leur éclat et leur vigueur (śukra), et que Viṣādī l’eut englouti, ces Daityas—bien qu’ils s’efforçassent ardemment pour la fête du combat—tombèrent dans un profond désespoir.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Yuddhakhaṇḍa account to the sages)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
FAQs
It shows that asuric confidence rooted in ego can collapse instantly when Shiva’s power acts through his attendant Nandin; when the inner “vital force” (śukra) is withdrawn, pride turns into viṣāda (despondency), pointing to the Shaiva Siddhanta theme that Pati alone sustains all power.
Nandin represents Saguna Shiva’s living presence and protection around the Lord; devotion to Shiva (often centered on the Liṅga) aligns one with Shiva’s śakti, while opposition to Shiva leads to the draining of strength and clarity, as depicted here.
A practical takeaway is to counter viṣāda through Shiva-upāsanā: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating steadiness so vitality is not lost to despair.