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
นันทีศวรกล่าวว่า “ครั้นได้ฟังวิธีการตามที่ศรุติสอนไว้แล้ว เทพทั้งสองจึงกล่าวแก่ศรุติว่า ‘ถ้อยคำของท่านเป็นปรมาณะแก่เรา แต่ขอจงแถลงตัตตวะให้ถูกต้องและครบถ้วน’”
Nandīśvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
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.