Shloka 39

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

तत्तद्विद्धि चतुर्वक्त्र सर्वं मन्मयमित्यथ । मया सृष्टं पुरा व्यक्तं चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वकम्

Transliteration

tattadviddhi caturvaktra sarvaṃ manmayamityatha | mayā sṛṣṭaṃ purā vyaktaṃ caturviṃśatitattvakam

Translation

Wisse dies, o viergesichtiger Brahmā: Wahrlich, all dies ist von Mir durchdrungen. Einst habe Ich selbst die unterschiedene Schöpfung offenbart, bestehend aus den vierundzwanzig Prinzipien (Tattvas).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative)

• तत्: that (very)
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, द्वितीया (Accusative); पुनरुक्ति-बल (that very)

• विद्धि: know
• विद्धि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चतुर्वक्त्र: O four-faced one (Brahmā)
• चतुर्वक्त्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सम्बोधन (Vocative); बहुव्रीहि (चत्वारि वक्त्राणि यस्य)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• मन्मयम्: consisting of me
• मन्मयम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मम मयम् = made of me/consisting of me)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• अथ: then/now
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then/now)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental)

• सृष्टम्: created
• सृष्टम्: Kriya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृज् (धातु) → सृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘created’

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण-कालय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (formerly)

• व्यक्तम्: manifest
• व्यक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्यक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-विशेषण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; विशेषण (manifest)

• चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वकम्: having twenty-four tattvas
• चतुर्विंशतितत्त्वकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + तत्त्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चतुर्विंशतेः तत्त्वकं = having 24 principles)

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Rudra/Sadāśiva) instructing Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: emanation of vyakta-prapañca as caturviṃśati-tattvas (Sāṃkhya-style manifest principles)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva as the all-pervading Lord (Pati) who both manifests the created order and yet transcends it; realizing that the tattvas are His manifested domain supports detachment and liberation-oriented discernment.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the ground of manifestation: while the world appears as differentiated tattvas, it is ultimately ‘manmaya’—pervaded by Shiva—so Saguna worship leads the mind from forms and principles back to the Lord symbolized by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is tattva-viveka (discriminative contemplation) during japa—especially of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—recognizing bodily and mental layers as tattvas and offering them inwardly to Shiva, the indwelling Lord.