Shloka 10
नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”
शक्र उवाच । पुत्रं दास्यामि पुत्रार्थिन्योनिजं मृत्युसंयुतम् । अन्यथा ते न दास्यामि मृत्युहीना न सन्ति वै
śakra uvāca | putraṃ dāsyāmi putrārthinyonijaṃ mṛtyusaṃyutam | anyathā te na dāsyāmi mṛtyuhīnā na santi vai
Śakra (Indra) đáp: “Ta sẽ ban cho ngươi một người con—sinh từ người nữ khao khát có con—nhưng sẽ gắn liền với tử vong (tức phải chịu chết). Còn cách khác thì ta không ban, vì thật vậy, không có hữu tình nào hoàn toàn thoát khỏi cái chết.”
Śakra (Indra)
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
The verse underscores a core Shaiva insight: worldly boons operate within the limits of embodiment and karma—hence the inevitability of death for created beings. True freedom from death is not obtained by ordinary celestial gifts, but by turning toward Shiva (Pati) who alone grants liberation beyond the bonds (pāśa) of mortality.
Indra’s statement highlights the limitation of all finite powers, pointing the seeker to Saguna Shiva worship—especially the Linga—as the accessible form through which grace is received. Linga-upāsanā directs devotion from temporary attainments (like progeny or longevity) toward Shiva’s saving grace that culminates in moksha.
A practical takeaway is Mṛtyuñjaya-bhāvanā—remembering Shiva as the conqueror of death—through japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya or Mahāmṛtyuñjaya mantra where practiced), along with simple Shaiva disciplines like applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivating detachment from merely worldly boons.