Shiva Purana — Satarudra Samhita, Shloka 19
Jaṭilāvatāra-Parīkṣā: Pārvatyāḥ Tapasāṃ Parīkṣaṇam
The Jaṭilā Episode and the Testing of Pārvatī’s Austerity
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्युक्त्वा ब्रह्मचारी स शंकरो भक्तवत्सलः । तस्थिवानुपकण्ठं स गोपायन्रूपमात्मनः
nandīśvara uvāca | ityuktvā brahmacārī sa śaṃkaro bhaktavatsalaḥ | tasthivānupakaṇṭhaṃ sa gopāyanrūpamātmanaḥ
ਨੰਦੀਸ਼ਵਰ ਨੇ ਆਖਿਆ—ਇਉਂ ਕਹਿ ਕੇ ਭਕਤਵਤਸਲ ਸ਼ੰਕਰ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਚਾਰੀ ਦੇ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਨੇੜੇ ਹੀ ਖੜ੍ਹੇ ਰਹੇ ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਧਾਰੇ ਹੋਏ ਰੂਪ ਦੀ ਸਾਵਧਾਨੀ ਨਾਲ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਰਦੇ ਰਹੇ।
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It highlights Śiva’s bhakta-vātsalya—His protective compassion—showing that the Lord may assume a suitable form to guard devotees and uphold dharma while remaining the supreme Pati (Lord) beyond all limitation.
The verse supports Saguna-upāsanā: Śiva can be approached through manifest forms and līlās for the devotee’s benefit, even though His highest reality is beyond form; such narratives cultivate devotion that ultimately leads to realization.
A takeaway is steady protective remembrance (smaraṇa) of Śiva with bhakti—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—asking the Lord to guard the mind and senses as a brahmacārī guards discipline.