Shloka 41

Devanagari script

नन्द्युवाच श्रुत्वा वाक्यं दधीचस्य तदास्थाय जनार्दनः स्वरूपं सस्मितं प्राह संत्यज्य द्विजतां क्षणात्

Transliteration

nandyuvāca śrutvā vākyaṃ dadhīcasya tadāsthāya janārdanaḥ svarūpaṃ sasmitaṃ prāha saṃtyajya dvijatāṃ kṣaṇāt

Translation

Nandī berkata: Setelah mendengar kata-kata Dadhīci, Janārdana pun menyetujuinya. Seketika itu juga Baginda menanggalkan samaran sebagai Brahmana dwija, lalu dengan senyuman lembut bertutur sambil menzahirkan rupa hakiki-Nya sendiri.

Word by Word

• नन्द्युवाच: Nandī said

• श्रुत्वा: having heard

• वाक्यम्: the statement/words

• दधीचस्य: of Dadhīci

• तदा: then

• आस्थाय: assenting to/accepting, taking up (his request)

• जनार्दनः: Janārdana (Viṣṇu)

• स्वरूपम्: his own true form

• सस्मितम्: with a smile, smiling

• प्राह: said/spoke

• संत्यज्य: abandoning, casting off

• द्विजताम्: the state/guise of a twice-born (Brahmin identity)

• क्षणात्: in a moment, instantly

Speaker

Nandi

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Dadhichi
• Janardana (Vishnu)

FAQs

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

It frames a key Purāṇic theme used to support Liṅga devotion: the divine may assume a human/ritual identity, yet ultimately reveals the higher tattva—guiding devotees from outer forms (pūjā, varṇa-āśrama roles) toward recognition of the Supreme Lord (Pati) behind all worship.

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

Though Shiva is not named here, the verse supports the Siddhāntic reading that the Supreme Reality transcends adopted appearances: just as Janārdana drops a temporary guise to reveal svarūpa, so too Shiva as Pati is beyond all limiting upādhis, revealing grace (anugraha) to the bound soul (paśu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is inner discernment (viveka) within religious life: do not cling to external identity alone (dvijatā as a role); instead seek direct realization of the Lord’s svarūpa—an attitude aligned with Pāśupata discipline where humility and receptivity to divine instruction prepare the paśu for liberation from pāśa.