Shloka 29

भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । श्रुत्युक्तमिदमाकर्ण्यातीवमायाविमोहितौ । स्मित्वाहतुर्विधिहरी निगमांस्तान्विचेतनौ

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | śrutyuktamidamākarṇyātīvamāyāvimohitau | smitvāhaturvidhiharī nigamāṃstānvicetanau

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Hearing this teaching proclaimed by the Śruti, Brahmā and Viṣṇu—utterly deluded by Māyā—smiled and, as though senseless, began to dispute those very Vedic declarations.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• श्रुति-उक्तम्: said in the Śruti
• श्रुति-उक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्त (कृदन्त, √वच्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive)

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb/intensifier)

• माया-विमोहितौ: deluded by māyā
• माया-विमोहितौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त, √मुह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); भूतकृदन्त (क्त) used adjectivally

• स्मित्वा: having smiled
• स्मित्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund)

• आहतुः: they spoke/said
• आहतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद

• विधि-हरी: Brahmā and Viṣṇu
• विधि-हरी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक) + हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); द्वन्द्व-समास (विधिः च हरिः)

• निगमान्: the Vedas
• निगमान्: Sambodhyam/Karma (सम्बोध्य/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विचेतनौ: unconscious, senseless
• विचेतनौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विचेतन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Vedas (Shruti)

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted gods like Brahmā and Viṣṇu can be veiled by Māyā, and that liberation arises from humility before Śruti and direct realization of Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord), not from ego-driven disputation.

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

Their disputing the Vedic truth implies a failure to recognize Śiva’s supreme reality; Linga/Saguna worship disciplines the mind and dissolves Māyā’s pride, leading the devotee from form-based devotion toward the formless (Nirguṇa) truth of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to replace argument with sādhana—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and contemplative listening (śravaṇa) to Śruti/Śaiva teaching, which subdues Māyā and restores right discernment.