Shloka 1

वीरभद्र-भैरव-आह्वानम् — Invocation of Vīrabhadra/Bhairava for Cosmic Reabsorption

Devanagari script

नंदीश्वर उवाच । एवमभ्यर्थितो देवैर्मतिं चक्रे कृपा लयः । महातेजो नृसिंहाख्यं संहर्त्तुं परमेश्वरः

Transliteration

naṃdīśvara uvāca | evamabhyarthito devairmatiṃ cakre kṛpā layaḥ | mahātejo nṛsiṃhākhyaṃ saṃharttuṃ parameśvaraḥ

Translation

难提伊湿伐罗说道：诸天如此恳请后，至上主——慈悲之所依——便决意平息那位光辉炽盛、名为那罗辛诃者。

Word by Word

• nandīśvaraḥ: Nandīśvara
• nandīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nandīśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• evam: thus
• evam: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb)

• abhyarthitaḥ: having been requested
• abhyarthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√arth (धातु) > abhyarthita (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'having been entreated'

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• matim: intention/resolve
• matim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• cakre: made/formed
• cakre: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, आत्मनेपद

• kṛpālayaḥ: the abode of compassion
• kṛpālayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक) + ālaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष 'abode of compassion'; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• mahā-tejaḥ: very radiant
• mahā-tejaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय 'great in splendor'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; qualifies nṛsiṃhākhyam

• nṛsiṃha-ākhyam: called Nṛsiṃha
• nṛsiṃha-ākhyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nṛsiṃha (प्रातिपदिक) + ākhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष 'named Nṛsiṃha'; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• saṃhartum: to destroy
• saṃhartum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/उद्देश्य)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√hṛ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अव्यय; 'to destroy/withdraw'

• parameśvaraḥ: the Supreme Lord
• parameśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Speaker

Nandishvara (Nandi)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi
• Devas
• Narasimha

FAQs

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

It presents Śiva as Parameśvara—the compassionate Lord who restores equilibrium when even divine power becomes overwhelming, showing Pati’s grace guiding creation back to harmony.

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

Though not naming the Liṅga directly, it highlights Saguna Śiva as the active, personal Lord who responds to prayer and protects the devas—an attitude central to devotional Liṅga-worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as kṛpālayaḥ (abode of compassion) and saṁhartā (the regulator of dissolution), repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to seek inner restraint, balance, and grace.