Shloka 152

Adhyaya 71: पुरत्रयवृत्तान्तः—ब्रह्मवरदानम्, मयकृतत्रिपुर-निर्माणम्, विष्णुमाया-धर्मविघ्नः, शिवस्तुति, त्रिपुरदाहोपक्रमः

Devanagari script

संकीर्णं तु दिवः पृष्ठं नक्षत्रैरिव सुव्रताः कुसुमैः संवृतो नन्दी वृषपृष्ठे रराज सः

Transliteration

saṃkīrṇaṃ tu divaḥ pṛṣṭhaṃ nakṣatrairiva suvratāḥ kusumaiḥ saṃvṛto nandī vṛṣapṛṣṭhe rarāja saḥ

Translation

நல்ல விரதமுடையோரே! நட்சத்திரங்களால் நிறைந்த வான்மண்டலம் போல, மலர்களால் மூடப்பட்ட நந்தி வृषபத்தின் முதுகில் அமர்ந்து மிகுந்த ஒளியுடன் விளங்கினான்.

Word by Word

• saṃkīrṇam: strewn, scattered

• tu: indeed

• divaḥ: of the sky/heaven

• pṛṣṭham: surface, vault

• nakṣatraiḥ: with stars

• iva: like

• suvratāḥ: O you of good vows (vocative)

• kusumaiḥ: with flowers

• saṃvṛtaḥ: covered, adorned

• nandī: Nandi

• vṛṣa-pṛṣṭhe: on the bull’s back

• rarāja: shone, was splendid

• saḥ: he

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya, contextual)

Characters & Entities

• Nandi

FAQs

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

It highlights puṣpa-arcana (flower-offering) as a core upacāra of Shiva-puja, showing Nandi as the shining emblem of unwavering devotion placed before the Lord—guiding the pashu (soul) toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By portraying Nandi’s radiance and auspicious adornment, the verse indirectly reflects Shiva-tattva as the source of divine splendor (tejas) that manifests through His gaṇas and foremost bhakta—signifying grace that loosens pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Flower-offering with disciplined vows (suvrata) is implied—an outer act of puja aligned with inner Pāśupata orientation: steadiness, purity, and one-pointed bhakti directed to Shiva through His gateway, Nandi.