Shloka 17
नन्दिकेशावतारवर्णनम् (Nandikeśa Avatāra Varṇanam) — “Account of the Descent/Origin of Nandikeśvara”
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवं व्याहृत्य विप्रेन्द्रमनुगृह्य च तं घृणी । देवैर्वृतः सुरेशानस्स्वलोकं समगान्मुने
nandīśvara uvāca | evaṃ vyāhṛtya viprendramanugṛhya ca taṃ ghṛṇī | devairvṛtaḥ sureśānassvalokaṃ samagānmune
难提自在天（Nandīśvara）说道：“如是言毕，慈悲的诸天之主垂恩于那位最胜婆罗门。随后，众天围绕，诸阿修罗之上主（诸天之王）归返其自有天界，噢圣贤。”
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Generic purāṇic motif: after granting grace to a brāhmaṇa devotee, the Lord returns to His own loka accompanied by devas.
Significance: Highlights Śiva’s accessibility (āśutoṣa) and compassionate anugraha toward the devotee, a core Siddhānta soteriology theme.
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights Shiva’s anugraha (saving grace): after instructing and blessing a worthy seeker, the compassionate Lord withdraws to His abode, showing that liberation and protection arise from Shiva’s mercy received through devotion and right understanding.
The verse portrays the personal (saguṇa) Lord who speaks, blesses, and moves among the devas—consistent with Linga worship where the devotee approaches Shiva as an accessible, gracious Lord who grants boons and spiritual upliftment.
The implied takeaway is bhakti joined with humility: worship Shiva (often through Linga pūjā) and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” seeking anugraha; the verse itself does not explicitly prescribe bhasma, rudrākṣa, or a specific rite.