Shloka 21
संहाररूप-प्रादुर्भावः
Manifestation of Śiva’s Saṃhāra-Form
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवं विज्ञापयन्प्रीत्या शङ्करं नरकेसरी । नत्वाऽशक्तोऽभवद्विष्णु जीवितान्त पराजितः
nandīśvara uvāca | evaṃ vijñāpayanprītyā śaṅkaraṃ narakesarī | natvā'śakto'bhavadviṣṇu jīvitānta parājitaḥ
难提湿伐罗说道：纳罗迦狮利以爱敬之心如是禀告圣主商羯罗，遂俯首顶礼。其后毗湿奴顿失神力，彻底败北，宛如生命之气已至尽头。
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
FAQs
It emphasizes Shaiva Siddhanta’s core truth that Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) alone is the ultimate source of power; even great deities become ineffective when divine will is opposed, and humility before Śaṅkara restores right orientation.
By portraying Śaṅkara as the decisive Lord before whom even Viṣṇu is rendered powerless, the verse supports Saguna Śiva-upāsanā—approaching the manifest Lord (often as the Liṅga) with reverence, surrender, and devotion.
The practical takeaway is śaraṇāgati (surrender) expressed through namaskāra and steady japa—especially the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—supported by Shaiva marks like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to devotion.