Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । स मायया महेशस्य मोहितः पद्मसम्भवः । अविज्ञाय परम्भावं संभावं प्रत्युवाच ह

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | sa māyayā maheśasya mohitaḥ padmasambhavaḥ | avijñāya parambhāvaṃ saṃbhāvaṃ pratyuvāca ha

Translation

Nandīśvara berkata: Diperdaya oleh māyā Mahādeva, Padmasambhava (Brahmā) menjawab tanpa mengenali keadaan tertinggi dan hakikat sejati Tuhan Yang Maha Agung.

Word by Word

• नन्दीश्वरः: Nandīśvara
• नन्दीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दीश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—नन्दी + ईश्वर (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

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

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मायया: by (his) māyā/illusion
• मायया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• महेशस्य: of Maheśa (Śiva)
• महेशस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + ईशः (कर्मधारयः)

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (सः/पद्मसम्भवः)

• पद्मसम्भवः: Padmasambhava (Brahmā, lotus-born)
• पद्मसम्भवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पद्मात् सम्भवः (पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषः)

• अविज्ञाय: not knowing
• अविज्ञाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/ल्यप्); नञ्-पूर्वकः (अ-); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (भावम्)

• भावम्: nature/state
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• सम्भावम्: (his) own notion/assumption; estimation
• सम्भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम् + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (निपात/अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अर्थे—खलु/एव (emphasis)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga account; it explicitly names Mahādeva’s māyā as the cause of Brahmā’s non-recognition—classic tirodhāna (concealment) preceding eventual anugraha.

Significance: Doctrinal warning: even exalted beings can be veiled by māyā; encourages surrender and right knowledge in Śiva-kṣetras and daily sādhana.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that even exalted deities like Brahmā can be veiled by Shiva’s māyā; liberation arises from recognizing Maheshvara’s parama-bhāva (supreme reality) rather than relying on limited, ego-based understanding.

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

The verse implies that Shiva’s true nature transcends ordinary perception; Linga and Saguna worship provide a concrete focus through which the devotee gradually overcomes māyā and intuits Shiva’s supreme, formless essence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A key takeaway is humble japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and devotion, cultivating discernment to move beyond delusion and align the mind with Shiva’s supreme nature.