Shloka 24
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
नन्दीश्वर उवाच । एवमुक्तस्ततः शम्भुर्विष्णुना भैरवो हरः । प्रत्युवाचाद्भुतोतिस्स विष्णुं हि विहसन्प्रभुः
nandīśvara uvāca | evamuktastataḥ śambhurviṣṇunā bhairavo haraḥ | pratyuvācādbhutotissa viṣṇuṃ hi vihasanprabhuḥ
难提湿伐罗说道：毗湿奴如此发问后，商婆——以怖畏庄严的拜罗婆之相示现的诃罗——含笑而立；这位至上主宰遂以奇妙之言答复毗湿奴。
Nandishvara (Nandi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It presents Śiva as Pati—the sovereign Lord—who responds with effortless mastery (a calm smile) even in the formidable Bhairava form, indicating that divine power is guided by grace and higher wisdom, not agitation.
By naming Śiva as Bhairava and Prabhu, the verse supports Saguna worship—approaching the One Lord through a specific form and līlā—while implying that the same supreme reality can be adored as the Liṅga (formless sign) or as a manifest deity.
A practical takeaway is steady mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with inner composure—remembering Bhairava as the protector—optionally supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva disciplines.