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
难提湿伐罗(Nandīśvara)说道:“听闻了《室利提》(Śruti)所宣说的仪轨之后,那两位天神便对诸《室利提》说道:‘你们所说对我们确为权威(pramāṇa);但请将真实原理——tattva——正确而圆满地宣示。’”
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.