Shloka 956

Devanagari script

अयं श्रेष्ठ इति ज्ञात्वा ववन्दे तं पितामह: । तदनन्तर ब्रह्माजीने निकट जाकर भगवान्‌ महेश्वरको देखा और ये ही सबसे श्रेष्ठ हैं, ऐसा जानकर उनकी वन्दना की

Transliteration

ayaṁ śreṣṭha iti jñātvā vavande taṁ pitāmahaḥ | tadanantaraṁ brahmājine nikaṭa gatvā bhagavān maheśvaraṁ dadarśa ca—ete hi sarvaśreṣṭhā iti jñātvā tasya vandanāṁ cakāra |

Translation

In der Erkenntnis: „Dieser ist der Höchste“, verneigte sich der Ahnvater vor ihm. Danach trat er nahe an den heiligen Sitz, der mit Brahmā verbunden ist (die „Brahmā-Haut“), und erblickte den seligen Maheśvara (Śiva); und wissend: „Er ist wahrlich der Höchste von allen“, brachte er ihm ehrfürchtige Huldigung dar.

Word by Word

अयम्this (one)

श्रेष्ठःbest, excellent

इतिthus

ज्ञात्वाhaving known

ववन्देworshipped, bowed to

तम्him

पितामहःthe grandsire (Brahmā)

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

Pitāmaha (Brahmā)

Maheśvara (Śiva)

Brahmājina

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights dharmic humility and discernment: when true supremacy (spiritual or divine excellence) is recognized, the proper response is reverence rather than pride. It frames devotion as an ethical act grounded in right understanding.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa narrates that the Grandsire (Pitāmaha/Brahmā) realizes who is ‘the best’ and offers obeisance. He then approaches the Brahmā-associated seat/covering (brahmājina), beholds Maheśvara (Śiva), and, knowing him to be the highest, worships him.