Shloka 36

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । साहङ्कारं वचः श्रुत्वा हरेरमितविक्रमः । विहस्योवाच सावज्ञन्ततो विस्फुरिताधरः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | sāhaṅkāraṃ vacaḥ śrutvā hareramitavikramaḥ | vihasyovāca sāvajñantato visphuritādharaḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara sprach: Als er Haris Worte hörte, aus Ichsucht gesprochen, lachte der von unermesslicher Kraft (Śiva) und erwiderte dann in geringschätzigem Ton; seine Lippen bebten vor Entrüstung.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नन्दिनः ईश्वरः/नन्दीश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sa: he
• sa: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (he)

• ahaṅkāram: arrogant
• ahaṅkāram: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahaṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vacaḥ: arrogant)

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive); श्रुत्वा = having heard

• hareḥ: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• amita-vikramaḥ: of immeasurable prowess
• amita-vikramaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अमितः विक्रमः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sa)

• vihasya: having laughed
• vihasya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-has (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund); विहस्य = having laughed

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sa-avajñam: contemptuously
• sa-avajñam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग-सदृश/सह) + avajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (सावज्ञम् = अवज्ञया सहितम्/with contempt); क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः (then/thereupon)

• visphurita-adharaḥ: with quivering lips
• visphurita-adharaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: visphurita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+स्फुर्) + adhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विस्फुरितः अधरः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sa)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Nandi

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

It highlights how अहंकार (ego) distorts even divine speech and becomes a veil (pāśa) over true knowledge; Śiva’s response signals that liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta arises through humility and receptivity to Pati (the Lord), not self-assertion.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Śaiva practice, Saguna Śiva (as the worshipful Lord) is approached through reverence and surrender; the verse contrasts ego-driven debate with the devotional stance required for Linga-upāsanā, where grace (anugraha) is central.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with bhāva of humility, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as reminders to subdue pride and align the mind to Śiva.