Shloka 3
नन्दाव्रत-समाप्तिः तथा शङ्करस्य प्रत्यक्ष-दर्शनम्
Completion of the Nandā-vrata and Śiva’s Direct Appearance
इति नंदाव्रते पूर्णे नवम्यां दिनभागतः । तस्यास्तु ध्यानमग्नायाः प्रत्यक्षमभवद्धरः
iti naṃdāvrate pūrṇe navamyāṃ dinabhāgataḥ | tasyāstu dhyānamagnāyāḥ pratyakṣamabhavaddharaḥ
Demikianlah, apabila Nandā-vrata selesai sempurna, pada hari kesembilan ketika siang semakin berlalu, Sang Penanggung segala (Tuhan Śiva) menampakkan diri secara nyata di hadapannya, kerana dia tenggelam dalam meditasi.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: A vrata (Nandā-vrata) culminating in pratyakṣa-darśana: the archetypal ‘vrata → darśana’ sthala motif, though no specific jyotirliṅga is named here.
Significance: Teaches that sustained vrata and dhyāna ripen into Śiva’s direct manifestation—anugraha as experiential darśana.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that disciplined vrata combined with one-pointed dhyāna culminates in Śiva’s anugraha (grace), where the Pati (Lord) becomes pratyakṣa to the devotee—an affirmation of bhakti-yoga ripening into direct spiritual experience.
The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s accessibility: through vow, purity, and meditation, the worshipper’s inner focus matures into darśana. In Śaiva practice this is mirrored in Liṅga-upāsanā, where sustained worship leads from external form to inward realization of Śiva’s presence.
It points to observing a vrata (like Nandā-vrata) with steady dhyāna; practically, one may add japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative meditation on Śiva as the world-supporting Dhara, seeking inner stillness and devotion.