Shloka 4

Indra’s Account: Shilada’s Tapas and Shiva’s Manifestation as Nandi

Devanagari script

निर्मांसरुधिरत्वग् वै निर्लेपः कुड्यवत् स्थितः अस्थिशेषो ऽभवत्पश्चात् तममन्यत शङ्करः

Transliteration

nirmāṃsarudhiratvag vai nirlepaḥ kuḍyavat sthitaḥ asthiśeṣo 'bhavatpaścāt tamamanyata śaṅkaraḥ

Translation

അവൻ മാംസം, രക്തം, ത്വക്ക് എന്നിവ ഇല്ലാതെയായിട്ടും നിർലേപനായി മതിലുപോലെ നിശ്ചലമായി നിന്നു. പിന്നെ അസ്ഥിശേഷം മാത്രം ശേഷിക്കുമ്പോൾ ശങ്കരൻ അവനെ തന്റെതായ (സത്യ) സ്വരൂപമായി അംഗീകരിച്ചു।

Word by Word

• nirmāṃsa: without flesh

• rudhira: blood

• tvak: skin

• vai: indeed

• nirlepaḥ: unstained, untainted

• kuḍya-vat: like a wall

• sthitaḥ: stood, remained

• asthi: bones

• śeṣaḥ: remainder, residue

• abhavat: became

• paścāt: afterwards

• tam: him/that

• amanyata: understood, recognized, considered

• śaṅkaraḥ: Śaṅkara (Lord Shiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; describing Shiva’s recognition within the episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It points to Shiva as nirlepa—unstained by material coverings—supporting Linga worship as adoration of the formless Pati beyond the perishable body and its layers.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is shown as changeless and untouched (nirlepa), recognized when all transient coverings fall away—indicating the Supreme Pati who remains when pasha-bound appearances dissolve.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A vairagya-driven contemplative practice aligned with Pashupata Yoga: meditating on the impermanence of bodily layers and abiding in the unstained witness, the Shiva-nature beyond identification.