Shloka 24
भैरवावतारवर्णनम् (Bhairavāvatāra-varṇanam) — “Description of the Descent/Manifestation of Bhairava”
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । श्रुत्युक्तविधिमाकर्ण्य प्रोचतुस्तौ सुरौ श्रुतीः । युष्मदुक्तं प्रमाणं नौ किन्तत्त्वं सम्यगुच्यताम्
nandīśvara uvāca | śrutyuktavidhimākarṇya procatustau surau śrutīḥ | yuṣmaduktaṃ pramāṇaṃ nau kintattvaṃ samyagucyatām
ನಂದೀಶ್ವರನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಶ್ರುತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹೇಳಿದ ವಿಧಿಯನ್ನು ಕೇಳಿ ಆ ಇಬ್ಬರು ದೇವರುಗಳು ಶ್ರುತಿಗಳನ್ನು ಉದ್ದೇಶಿಸಿ ಹೇಳಿದರು: ‘ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮಾತು ನಮಗೆ ಪ್ರಮಾಣ; ಆದರೆ ತತ್ತ್ವವನ್ನು ಸಮ್ಯಕ್ವಾಗಿ, ಸಂಪೂರ್ಣವಾಗಿ ಹೇಳಿರಿ.’
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It distinguishes between merely hearing Vedic ritual procedure (vidhi) and seeking the deeper tattva—right knowledge of the Supreme (Pati, Shiva) that leads toward liberation, a key Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis.
It shows that authoritative worship (including Linga-upāsanā) should be grounded in Śruti-pramāṇa, but must culminate in understanding Shiva-tattva—so devotion to Saguna Shiva becomes a doorway to realizing the highest reality.
The verse implies a two-step practice: follow Śruti-based worship correctly, and simultaneously pursue tattva-vicāra (contemplation on Shiva as the ultimate principle), typically supported by mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara.