Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एतान्वरान्प्रगृह्याथ तत्क्षणात्कालभैरवः । वामांगुलिनखाग्रेण चकर्त च विधेश्शिरः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | etānvarānpragṛhyātha tatkṣaṇātkālabhairavaḥ | vāmāṃgulinakhāgreṇa cakarta ca vidheśśiraḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara said: “Having accepted these boons, at that very instant Kālabhairava, with the tip of the nail of his left finger, cut off the head of Vidhi (Brahmā).”

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; वक्तृ-निर्देश (speaker)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एतान्: these
• एतान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (demonstrative: these)

• वरान्: boons
• वरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• प्रगृह्य: having accepted
• प्रगृह्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive); ‘having taken/accepted’

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/प्रारम्भार्थक निपात (then/now)

• तत्-क्षणात्: from that moment
• तत्-क्षणात्: अपादान (Apādāna)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; अवधी/अपादानार्थ (from that very moment)

• कालभैरवः: Kālabhairava
• कालभैरवः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल (प्रातिपदिक) + भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Bhairava of Time)

• वाम-अङ्गुलि-नख-अग्रेण: with the tip of the left fingernail
• वाम-अङ्गुलि-नख-अग्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुलि (प्रातिपदिक) + नख (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (with the tip of the nail of the left finger)

• चकर्त: cut off
• चकर्त: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थः ‘चकर्त’ = ‘छेदं कृतवान्’ (he cut)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (and)

• विधेः: of Brahmā (Vidhi)
• विधेः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शिरः: head
• शिरः: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālabhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Mythic enforcement of cosmic hierarchy: Brahmā’s pride/slander is checked by Bhairava’s instantaneous act

Characters & Entities

• Nandishvara (Nandi)
• Kalabhairava
• Brahma (Vidhi)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s role as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who restrains cosmic pride and adharmic authority. Kālabhairava’s act symbolizes the cutting down of ahaṅkāra (ego) and the restoration of dharma through divine discipline.

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

Kālabhairava is a Saguna manifestation of Śiva—divinity taking a definite form to protect order. Such narratives reinforce that the Linga and Śiva’s forms are worshipped not as mere symbols, but as the living presence of the Lord who governs creation, preservation, and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ego-purification through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with devotion and self-restraint. For Bhairava-upāsanā traditions, disciplined mantra-japa and Śiva-bhakti are emphasized over mere outward power-seeking.