Shloka 15

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । इत्यादिष्टो गणाध्यक्षो प्रशान्तं वपुरास्थितः । जगाम रंहसा तत्र यत्रास्ते नरकेसरी

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | ityādiṣṭo gaṇādhyakṣo praśāntaṃ vapurāsthitaḥ | jagāma raṃhasā tatra yatrāste narakesarī

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus instructed, the leader of Śiva’s gaṇas, established in a tranquil and composed form, swiftly went to that place where Narakeśarī was staying.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — masculine nominative singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/परफेक्ट), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् — Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-suchaka (वचनसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्ययम् — quotative particle

• आदिष्टः: having been instructed
• आदिष्टः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दिś् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — past passive participle, nominative singular masculine

• गणाध्यक्षः: leader of the gaṇas
• गणाध्यक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘गणानाम् अध्यक्षः’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — masculine nominative singular

• प्रशान्तम्: calmed, tranquil
• प्रशान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (प्रशान्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचनम् — past participial adjective, neuter accusative singular (qualifying ‘वपुः’)

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — neuter accusative singular

• आस्थितः: having assumed / having taken (on)
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्तः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचनम् — past active participle (PPP in sense ‘having assumed’), nominative singular masculine

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, परस्मैपदम् — Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• रंहसा: with speed
• रंहसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रंहस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — instrumental singular (manner)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्ययम् — adverb of place

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्धबोधक देशवाचक अव्ययम् — relative adverb ‘where’

• आस्ते: is seated / remains
• आस्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आस् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमानकाल), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्, आत्मनेपदम् — Present, 3rd person singular, middle

• नरकेसरी: Nara-lion (Narasiṃha)
• नरकेसरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + केसरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः (‘नरः एव केसरी’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचनम् — masculine nominative singular

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara (Nandi)
• Ganas
• Narakesari
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights disciplined obedience and inner calm (praśānta) in Śiva’s service—an ideal of Shaiva devotion where right action is performed swiftly yet with a composed mind.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s divine order operating through His gaṇas; honoring Śiva includes honoring His sacred retinue and the dharmic execution of His commands, which supports Linga-worship as devoted service.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to combine japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with cultivating a tranquil, steady mind before action—acting quickly in duty while remaining inwardly composed.