Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । साहङ्कारं वचः श्रुत्वा हरेरमितविक्रमः । विहस्योवाच सावज्ञन्ततो विस्फुरिताधरः

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | sāhaṅkāraṃ vacaḥ śrutvā hareramitavikramaḥ | vihasyovāca sāvajñantato visphuritādharaḥ

Translation

Nandīśvara dit : Ayant entendu les paroles de Hari, proférées avec orgueil, Celui dont la vaillance est sans mesure (Śiva) rit, puis répondit d’un ton de dédain, les lèvres frémissantes d’indignation.

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नन्दिनः ईश्वरः/नन्दीश्वरः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sa: he
• sa: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (he)

• ahaṅkāram: arrogant
• ahaṅkāram: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ahaṅkāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vacaḥ: arrogant)

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund/absolutive); श्रुत्वा = having heard

• hareḥ: of Hari (Viṣṇu)
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• amita-vikramaḥ: of immeasurable prowess
• amita-vikramaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amita (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अमितः विक्रमः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sa)

• vihasya: having laughed
• vihasya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Anterior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-has (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त (gerund); विहस्य = having laughed

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• sa-avajñam: contemptuously
• sa-avajñam: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग-सदृश/सह) + avajñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (सावज्ञम् = अवज्ञया सहितम्/with contempt); क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात्/ततः (then/thereupon)

• visphurita-adharaḥ: with quivering lips
• visphurita-adharaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: visphurita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि+स्फुर्) + adhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (विस्फुरितः अधरः यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (of sa)

Speaker

Nandīśvara (Nandin)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It highlights how अहंकार (ego) distorts even divine speech and becomes a veil (pāśa) over true knowledge; Śiva’s response signals that liberation in Shaiva Siddhanta arises through humility and receptivity to Pati (the Lord), not self-assertion.

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

In Śaiva practice, Saguna Śiva (as the worshipful Lord) is approached through reverence and surrender; the verse contrasts ego-driven debate with the devotional stance required for Linga-upāsanā, where grace (anugraha) is central.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with bhāva of humility, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as reminders to subdue pride and align the mind to Śiva.