Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6
देवस्तुतिः—नन्दिकेश्वरविज्ञप्तिः—शम्भोः समाधेः उत्थानम्
Devas’ Hymn, Nandikeśvara’s Petition, and Śiva’s Rising from Samādhi
नंदिकेश्वर उवाच । विष्ण्वादयस्सुरगणा मुनिसिद्धसंघास्त्वां द्रष्टुमेव सुरवर्य्य विशेषयंति । कार्यार्थिनोऽसुरवरैः परिभर्त्स्य मानास्सम्यक् पराभवपदं परमं प्रपन्नाः
naṃdikeśvara uvāca | viṣṇvādayassuragaṇā munisiddhasaṃghāstvāṃ draṣṭumeva suravaryya viśeṣayaṃti | kāryārthino'suravaraiḥ paribhartsya mānāssamyak parābhavapadaṃ paramaṃ prapannāḥ
Nandikesvara berkata: “O yang terbaik dari para dewa, Visnu dan kumpulan dewa lainnya—bersama dengan kumpulan orang bijak dan makhluk sempurna—datang secara khusus semata-mata untuk melihatmu. Mencari pemenuhan tujuan ilahi mereka, dan telah dihina oleh para penguasa asura, mereka benar-benar jatuh ke dalam penghinaan yang luar biasa dan sekarang terdorong untuk berlindung padamu.”
Nandikeśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It highlights śaraṇāgati (taking refuge): even exalted beings like Viṣṇu, devas, sages, and Siddhas turn to Shiva when pride is broken and defeat is unavoidable, affirming Shiva as the supreme refuge (Pati) who uplifts those in distress.
The verse emphasizes approaching Shiva to ‘behold’ Him—an act mirrored in liṅga-darśana. In Saguna worship, devotees seek Shiva’s grace through direct darśana and surrender, trusting Him to remove dishonor, obstacles, and hostile forces.
A practical takeaway is prapatti with japa: repeat the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility, and perform simple liṅga-darśana/abhiṣeka as an act of refuge—offering one’s ‘defeat and distress’ at Shiva’s feet.