Shloka 52

शिवार्चनविधिः — देवतानां पाशुपतव्रतप्राप्तिः तथा पशुपाशविमोक्षणम् (अध्याय ८०)

Devanagari script

नन्दी शिलादतनयः सर्वभूतगणाग्रणीः तं दृष्ट्वा देवमीशानं सांबं सगणम् अव्ययम्

Transliteration

nandī śilādatanayaḥ sarvabhūtagaṇāgraṇīḥ taṃ dṛṣṭvā devamīśānaṃ sāṃbaṃ sagaṇam avyayam

Translation

नन्दी शिलादतनयः सर्वभूतगणाग्रणीः । तं दृष्ट्वा देवमीशानं सांबं सगणमव्ययम् ॥

Word by Word

• नन्दी (nandī): Nandi

• शिलादतनयः (śilādatanayaḥ): the son of Śilāda

• सर्वभूतगणाग्रणीः (sarvabhūtagaṇāgraṇīḥ): leader/foremost among the multitudes of beings

• तम् (tam): Him

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• देवम् (devam): the Deva, the shining Lord

• ईशानम् (īśānam): Īśāna, the Supreme Ruler (Shiva)

• सांबम् (sāṃbam): with Śambā/with the consort (Shakti)

• सगणम् (sagaṇam): with (His) gaṇas/attendants

• अव्ययम् (avyayam): imperishable, undecaying

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account)

Characters & Entities

• Nandi
• Shiva (Ishana)
• Shakti (Samba/Shamba)

FAQs

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

It establishes the devotional archetype: Nandī, Shiva’s foremost gaṇa, gains direct darśana of the imperishable Īśāna together with His retinue—affirming that true Linga-worship culminates in recognition of Pati (Shiva) as the eternal Lord attended by His cosmic powers.

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

Shiva is named Īśāna (the sovereign Pati) and avyaya (imperishable), indicating transcendence over decay and change; His being is also shown as inseparable from Śakti (“sāṃba”), highlighting the Siddhāntic view that Lord and Power are united in divine operation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes darśana-bhakti—focused contemplative seeing of the Lord—as a core Pāśupata orientation: the pashu (bound soul) turns toward Pati through devotion and awareness, supported by the gaṇa-ideal of disciplined service (sevā) exemplified by Nandī.