Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः
दिवः पृष्ठे यथा चन्द्रो नक्षत्रैरिव सुव्रताः तं दृष्ट्वा नन्दिनं देवाः सेन्द्रोपेन्द्रास् तथाविधम्
divaḥ pṛṣṭhe yathā candro nakṣatrairiva suvratāḥ taṃ dṛṣṭvā nandinaṃ devāḥ sendropendrās tathāvidham
Seperti bulan bersinar di kubah langit dikelilingi bintang-bintang, demikianlah Nandin tampak. Melihatnya dalam wujud demikian, para Dewa bersama Indra dan Upendra menyaksikan kemilau yang lahir dari tapa-vrata yang teguh dan bhakti kepada Pati (Śiva).
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
The verse emphasizes tejas born of suvrata (disciplined vows). In Linga worship, such vrata and purity make the devotee receptive to Śiva’s presence—seen here as Nandin’s moon-like radiance around which the Devas gather.
By presenting Nandin’s splendour as celestial and irresistibly drawing the Devas, the verse points to Śiva-tattva as Pati—self-luminous consciousness whose grace is mirrored in His attendants and accessible through dharma and devotion.
Suvrata—observance of holy vows and disciplined conduct—implicitly supports Pāśupata-oriented purification, loosening pāśa (bondage) so the pashu (individual soul) can align with Pati (Śiva).