Shloka 45
नारीसन्देहभञ्जक-शम्भ्ववतारकथा
The Account of Śambhu’s Incarnation that Dispels Doubts Concerning Women
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इति तस्या वचः श्रुत्वा स भिक्षुः परमेश्वरः । विप्रपत्न्याः प्रसन्नात्मा प्रोवाच विहसंश्च ताम्
nandīśvara uvāca | iti tasyā vacaḥ śrutvā sa bhikṣuḥ parameśvaraḥ | viprapatnyāḥ prasannātmā provāca vihasaṃśca tām
نندییشور نے کہا—اس کے کلمات سن کر وہ فقیر، جو خود پرمیشور تھے، برہمن کی بیوی پر مہربان ہوئے اور مسکراتے ہوئے اس سے بولے۔
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: A recurring Purāṇic teaching motif: Śiva appears as a bhikṣu to receive questions, then reveals truth and grants grace; here Nandīśvara explicitly identifies the mendicant as Parameśvara, marking the turn from tirodhāna to anugraha.
Significance: Hearing/reciting such episodes is framed as śravaṇa-bhakti that ripens into Śiva’s grace—recognizing the Lord in humble forms and receiving instruction.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights Shiva’s saulabhya (easy accessibility): Parameśvara may appear as a simple bhikṣu to meet devotees, hear their sincerity, and respond with grace—showing that compassionate attention to the devotee is central to Shaiva bhakti.
The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Shiva taking a perceivable form (here, a mendicant) to engage with devotees. Such narratives support Linga-worship by teaching that the same Parameśvara who is worshipped in the Linga also manifests outwardly to guide and bless.
The implied takeaway is humility and devotional receptivity: approach Shiva with sincere speech and a pure heart, supported by simple Shaiva practice such as japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and respectful service to holy guests (atithi-sevā).