Shloka 1

अवधूतेश्वरलीला (Avadhūteśvara-līlā) — Śiva Tests Indra’s Pride on the Way to Kailāsa

Devanagari script

नन्दीश्वर उवाच । शृणु त्वं ब्रह्मपुत्राद्यावतारं परमेशितुः । अवधूतेश्वराह्वं वै शक्रगर्वापहारकम्

Transliteration

nandīśvara uvāca | śṛṇu tvaṃ brahmaputrādyāvatāraṃ parameśituḥ | avadhūteśvarāhvaṃ vai śakragarvāpahārakam

Translation

نندییشور نے کہا—اے برہما کے فرزند! پرمیشور کے اس اوتار کا بیان سنو؛ وہ ‘اودھوتیشور’ کہلاتا ہے اور شکر (اِندر) کے غرور کو دور کرنے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandī-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नन्दिनः ईश्वरः (Lord of Nandin) / नाम

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun), प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• brahmaputra-ādi-avatāram: the incarnation beginning with Brahmā’s son (etc.)
• brahmaputra-ādi-avatāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahma-putra + ādi + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समास: (ब्रह्मपुत्रादि) + अवतारम्; ब्रह्मपुत्रादि = ब्रह्मणः पुत्रः (तत्पुरुष) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)

• parameśituḥ: of the Supreme Lord
• parameśituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama-īśitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: परमः ईशिता (Supreme Lord)

• avadhūta-īśvara-āhvam: named ‘Avadhūteśvara’
• avadhūta-īśvara-āhvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avadhūta + īśvara + āhva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहिर्वृत्ति-विशेषण: अवधूतेश्वर-आह्वम् = अवधूतेश्वर इति आह्वः यस्य (name-called ‘Avadhūteśvara’)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• śakra-garva-apahārakam: remover of Śakra’s (Indra’s) pride
• śakra-garva-apahārakam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra + garva + apahāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: शक्रस्य गर्वस्य अपहर्ता (remover of Indra’s pride)

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Introduces an avatāra named ‘Avadhūteśvara’ whose līlā humbles Indra—typical purāṇic theme of correcting deva-pride to re-establish right order.

Significance: Hearing the avatāra that subdues pride is presented as spiritually corrective—turning the listener from ahaṅkāra toward śaraṇāgati.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandishvara (Nandi)
• Brahma
• Indra (Shakra)

FAQs

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

It introduces Śiva’s Avadhūteśvara form as a divine means to dissolve ego (garva), teaching that true spiritual progress arises from humility and surrender to Parameśvara.

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

By naming a specific form—Avadhūteśvara—it points to Saguna Śiva worship, where devotees approach the Supreme through a manifest form (often via the Liṅga) to receive grace that removes pride and bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate humility through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined Shaiva conduct (bhasma/tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa where customary), offering the fruits of practice to Śiva to weaken ego.