Shloka 41
देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas
नन्दीश्वरोऽसि पशुषु वृषभः परमेश्वर । वेदेषूपनिषद्रूपी यज्वनां शीतभानुमान्
nandīśvaro'si paśuṣu vṛṣabhaḥ parameśvara | vedeṣūpaniṣadrūpī yajvanāṃ śītabhānumān
โอ้ปรเมศวร! ในหมู่สรรพสัตว์ พระองค์คือ นันทิศวร; ในหมู่สัตว์เดรัจฉาน พระองค์คือโคผู้ประเสริฐ. ในพระเวท พระองค์ทรงสถิตเป็นแก่นแห่งอุปนิษัท; และสำหรับผู้ประกอบยัญ พระองค์คือจันทร์รัศมีเย็น ผู้ประทานมงคลและความหล่อเลี้ยง।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya, conveying a hymn of praise to Shiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; the verse frames Śiva as Paśupati/Nandīśvara—Lord of paśu (bound beings)—and as the Upaniṣadic essence within the Veda, emphasizing Śiva’s guardianship and sustaining presence.
Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as Paśupati is held to loosen pāśa by cultivating śaraṇāgati (refuge) and disciplined dharma among householders and ritualists.
Type: stotra
Offering: dhupa
FAQs
It proclaims Shiva as the supreme Pati: present as the lordly principle in all beings, the emblematic bull among animals, and the Upanishadic essence within the Vedas—showing that true liberation knowledge culminates in Shiva.
By naming Shiva as Nandishvara and the bull-symbol, it supports Saguna devotion through sacred forms and emblems (like Nandi and the Linga), while also affirming that the same Shiva is the Upanishadic inner reality beyond mere ritual.
Use stotra-japa and contemplation: worship Shiva with devotion while meditating that he is the inner meaning of the Vedas; practitioners may pair this with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady remembrance during worship.