Shloka 26

भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्तो महेशेन भैरवेण रमापतिः । स्मृत्वा किंचिन्नतशिराः पुनरेवमजिज्ञपत्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | evamukto maheśena bhairaveṇa ramāpatiḥ | smṛtvā kiṃcinnataśirāḥ punarevamajijñapat

Translation

Nandīśvara said: Thus addressed by Maheśa in the form of Bhairava, Viṣṇu—the lord of Ramā—remembered something; then, bowing his head slightly, he again inquired in this manner.

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उक्तः: addressed/spoken to
• उक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (passive sense)

• महेशेन: by Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशेन: Kartr-karana (कर्ता-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• भैरवेण: by/with Bhairava
• भैरवेण: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भैरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• रमापतिः: the lord of Ramā (Viṣṇu)
• रमापतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered
• स्मृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + त्वा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• किंचित्: something
• किंचित्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Acc), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-परिमाण (indefinite)

• नत-शिराः: with bowed head
• नत-शिराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नत (प्रातिपदिक; √नम् क्त) + शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (one whose head is bowed), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अजिज्ञपत्: asked/inquired
• अजिज्ञपत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + सन्? (desiderative base जिज्ञास्) / causative?
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; धातुरूप: जिज्ञप् (to inquire/ask)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhairava
• Vishnu
• Lakshmi
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta virtue of vinaya (humility): even a great deity like Viṣṇu bows and asks again, showing that true knowledge of Pati (Śiva) is approached through reverence and sincere inquiry.

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

By naming Bhairava, the verse emphasizes Saguna Śiva—Śiva approachable in a definite form—before whom devotees (and even gods) submit and seek clarification, mirroring how worshippers approach the Liṅga with devotion and questions of dharma and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is praṇāma (bowing) and smaraṇa (remembrance) before inquiry—begin japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a bowed head and a recollected mind, then proceed to study or prayer for right understanding.