Shloka 1

Bhairavaśāpavṛttāntaḥ

The Episode of Bhairava’s Curse and Consolation

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अथ प्रीत्या शृणु मुनेऽवतारं परमं प्रभोः । शंकरस्यात्मभूपुत्र शृण्वतां सर्वकामदम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | atha prītyā śṛṇu mune'vatāraṃ paramaṃ prabhoḥ | śaṃkarasyātmabhūputra śṛṇvatāṃ sarvakāmadam

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Now, O sage, listen with loving attention to the supreme descent of the Lord. O self-born son (of Brahmā), hear of Śaṅkara’s divine manifestation—whose very hearing grants all cherished aims to those who listen.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समास: नन्दिन् + ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/‘Nandin’s lord’ as name)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• atha: then, now
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अनन्तरार्थक/मङ्गलार्थक-अव्यय)

• prītyā: with affection
• prītyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prīti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/imperative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• avatāram: incarnation, descent
• avatāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• paramam: supreme
• paramam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with avatāram

• prabhoḥ: of the Lord
• prabhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• śaṃkarasya: of Śaṅkara
• śaṃkarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• ātmabhūputra: O son of Ātmabhū (Brahmā)
• ātmabhūputra: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātmabhū + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (सम्बोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन); समास: आत्मभू (ब्रह्मा) + पुत्र = ‘son of Ātmabhū’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• śṛṇvatām: of those who listen
• śṛṇvatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śru (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त) used substantively; Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sarvakāmadam: granting all desires
• sarvakāmadam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + kāma + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with (implicit) ‘kathā/avatāra-vṛtta’; समास: सर्व + काम + द = ‘giver of all desires’ (उपपद-तत्पुरुष)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific Jyotirliṅga episode; it functions as a narrative gateway where Nandīśvara introduces a supreme avatāra/manifestation of Śaṅkara whose hearing grants desired aims.

Significance: Encourages kathā-śravaṇa as a pilgrimage of hearing (śravaṇa-yātrā), a Siddhānta-friendly upāya preparing the soul for Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shankara
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It establishes śravaṇa (devotional listening) as a direct spiritual practice: hearing Śiva’s supreme manifestations purifies the listener and can grant all aims—culminating in grace-oriented liberation (mokṣa) in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

By praising the Lord’s avatāra-kathā, it points to Saguna Śiva—Śaṅkara who compassionately becomes knowable through forms, stories, and worship; such hearing supports faith that naturally matures into Linga-centered devotion and inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is devoted listening/recitation of Shiva Purana narratives (śravaṇa–kīrtana) with prīti (loving attention), ideally alongside remembrance of Shiva’s name or the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).