Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

ततः प्रणम्य देवेशं स्तुत्वोवाच शिलाशनः हर्षगद्गदया वाचा सोमं सोमविभूषणम्

Transliteration

tataḥ praṇamya deveśaṃ stutvovāca śilāśanaḥ harṣagadgadayā vācā somaṃ somavibhūṣaṇam

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ശിലാശനൻ ദേവേശനെ നമസ്കരിച്ചു സ്തുതിച്ചു; ആനന്ദത്തിൽ വിറയുന്ന വാക്കുകളോടെ പറഞ്ഞു—സോമവിഭൂഷണനായ, ചന്ദ്രധാരിയായ പ്രഭുവിനെ അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്ത്.

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then

• praṇamya: having bowed/prostrated

• deveśam: the Lord of the gods (Pati, supreme ruler)

• stutvā: having praised

• uvāca: said/spoke

• śilāśanaḥ: Śilāśana (proper name, the speaker)

• harṣa-gadgadayā: faltering/trembling due to delight

• vācā: with (his) speech/voice

• somam: Soma, the Moon-deity

• soma-vibhūṣaṇam: He whose ornament is Soma (an epithet pointing to Śiva as Candrasekhara/Soma-bearing Lord).

Speaker

Śilāśana (within Suta’s narration)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma (Chandra)

FAQs

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

It foregrounds the core upacāras of Śaiva pūjā—praṇāma (prostration) and stuti (hymnic praise)—as the devotee approaches the Pati (Lord) with a heart softened by bhakti, a prerequisite for Linga-upāsanā.

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

By calling Him Deveśa and Soma-vibhūṣaṇa, the verse points to Śiva as the sovereign Pati who transcends yet graciously bears cosmic symbols (like Soma) as ornaments—signifying mastery over time, mind, and luminous consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Praṇāma and stuti are highlighted—devotional disciplines that steady the pashu (individual soul), loosen pasha (bondage) through humility and reverence, and prepare the aspirant for deeper Śaiva sādhana, including Pāśupata-oriented worship.