Adhyaya 44: Nandikesvara’s Manifestation and Abhisheka; The Rule of Namaskara in Shiva-Nama
भगवन्देवदेवेश त्रियंबक वृषध्वज किमर्थं च स्मृता देव आज्ञापय महाद्युते
bhagavandevadeveśa triyaṃbaka vṛṣadhvaja kimarthaṃ ca smṛtā deva ājñāpaya mahādyute
Ô Đấng Cát Tường, Chúa tể các thiên thần, Đấng Tam Nhãn, người mang cờ hiệu con bò—hỡi Deva rực rỡ uy quang, vì mục đích gì Ngài đã nhớ đến và triệu gọi chúng con? Xin ban mệnh lệnh; chúng con sẽ phụng hành.
Devas (addressing Lord Shiva within Suta’s narration)
It frames Shiva as Devadeveśa (Pati), the supreme authority whom even the Devas serve—establishing that all ritual and Linga-upāsanā ultimately proceeds by Shiva’s ājñā (command) and grace.
Through epithets like Tryambaka and Vṛṣadhvaja, Shiva is presented as the all-seeing, sovereign Pati—radiant, transcendent, and yet directly approachable as the Lord who issues guidance to his dependents.
The key takeaway is śaraṇāgati and ājñā-pālana—disciplined obedience to the Lord’s command, which aligns with Pāśupata orientation where the pashu moves toward freedom by submitting to Pati’s will.