Shloka 16
वृत्ति-सत्सङ्ग-दान-धर्म
Livelihood, Virtuous Association, and Ethics of Giving
महाराज! अनेक रूप धारण करनेवाले भूत, महाभयंकर राक्षस, महाबली और बहुत- से रूप धारण करनेवाले पिशाच, जो महादेवजीके अनुचर थे, वहाँ हर्षमें भरकर नाना प्रकारके अस्त्र-शस्त्र लिये खड़े रहते थे। वे सब-के-सब अग्निके समान तेजस्वी थे ।। ननन््दी च भगवांस्तत्र देवस्यानुमते स्थित: । प्रगृह्म ज्वलितं शूलं दीप्यमान: स्वतेजसा,महादेवजीकी आज्ञासे भगवान् नन््दी अपने तेजसे देदीप्यमान हो हाथमें प्रज्वलित शूल लेकर वहाँ खड़े रहते थे
mahārāja! aneka-rūpa-dhāraṇa-karṇe bhūtāḥ, mahābhayaṅkarā rākṣasāḥ, mahābalinaś ca bahu-rūpa-dhāriṇaḥ piśācāḥ—ye mahādevasya anucarā āsan—tatra harṣeṇa pūrṇā nānā-vidhāni astrāṇi śastrāṇi ca gṛhītvā tiṣṭhanti sma. te sarve agni-sadṛśa-tejasvinaḥ. nandī ca bhagavāṃs tatra devasyānumate sthitaḥ, pragr̥hya jvalitaṃ śūlaṃ dīpyamānaḥ sva-tejasā.
Bhishma disse: “Ó grande rei, ali estavam, exultantes, os espíritos de muitas formas—rakshasas terríveis e pishachas poderosos, capazes de mudar de figura—assistentes de Mahadeva, de pé, empunhando armas variadas. Todos fulguravam com um brilho semelhante ao fogo. E Nandi também, o Bem-aventurado, ali postado com a permissão do Senhor, permanecia de pé segurando um tridente em chamas, resplandecendo por seu próprio esplendor inato.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage underscores the majesty and protective power surrounding Mahādeva: divine order is upheld not only by gentle sanctity but also by formidable guardianship. It frames devotion and divine authority as accompanied by disciplined strength—radiant, armed, and sanctioned—suggesting that safeguarding dharma may require awe-inspiring force under rightful command.
Bhishma describes a scene where Śiva’s attendants—various supernatural beings—stand joyfully armed and blazing with fiery brilliance. Nandi, by Śiva’s permission, stands prominently holding a flaming trident, emphasizing the organized, sanctioned presence of Śiva’s powerful retinue.