Shloka 54
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । अनुगृह्येति दैत्यारि केंद्राद्रिभुवनेचरम् । भेजे विमुक्तनगरीं नाम्ना वाराणसीं पुरीम्
nandīśvara uvāca | anugṛhyeti daityāri keṃdrādribhuvanecaram | bheje vimuktanagarīṃ nāmnā vārāṇasīṃ purīm
ナンディーシュヴァラは言った。「恩寵を垂れ給い」、阿修羅を滅する御方はケーンドラードリの聖域とその清浄なる界に来臨し、そして『解脱の都』として名高い、ヴァーラーナシーの都へと入られた。
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) is praised as Vimuktakṣetra where Śiva grants taraka-upadeśa at death; here Nandīśvara frames Śiva’s arrival as ‘anugṛhya’—a deliberate descent to bestow liberation.
Significance: Residence or death in Kāśī is extolled as leading to mokṣa through Śiva’s special grace; darśana of Viśvanātha and bathing in Gaṅgā are central.
Role: liberating
Offering: dipa
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s anugraha (grace) as the direct cause of liberation, and it presents Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) as Vimuktanagarī—sacred space where Shiva’s presence is especially oriented toward moksha.
By describing Shiva entering Kāśī, the verse points to Saguna Shiva’s compassionate accessibility through sacred places and forms of worship (including linga-upāsanā), where devotees approach the Lord who grants release through grace.
A practical takeaway is pilgrimage or inward “dwelling” in Kāśī through japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with Shaiva observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supports to remembrance of Shiva’s liberating grace.