Shloka 6

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

एष पद्मात्ततो जज्ञे पुत्रोऽहं हेमगर्भकः । चतुर्मुखो रक्तवर्णस्त्रिपुड्रांकितमस्तकः

Transliteration

eṣa padmāttato jajñe putro'haṃ hemagarbhakaḥ | caturmukho raktavarṇastripuḍrāṃkitamastakaḥ

Translation

Aus diesem Lotos wurde ich darauf als Sohn geboren — Hiraṇyagarbha, der „Goldene Keim“. Ich hatte vier Gesichter, rötliche Farbe, und mein Haupt war mit dem Tripuṇḍra gezeichnet — den drei heiligen Aschelinien, dem Zeichen der Hingabe an Herrn Śiva.

Word by Word

• eṣaḥ: this (one)
• eṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• padmāt: from the lotus
• padmāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then/from there
• tataḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• jajñe: was born/arose
• jajñe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• hema-garbhakaḥ: Hemagarbhaka (golden-embryo/one with golden womb)
• hema-garbhakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + garbhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet

• catur-mukhaḥ: four-faced
• catur-mukhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: catur (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying the speaker (Brahmā)

• rakta-varṇaḥ: red-colored
• rakta-varṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tripuṇḍra-aṃkita-mastakaḥ: whose head is marked with the triple tilaka
• tripuṇḍra-aṃkita-mastakaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + puṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃkita (कृदन्त) + mastaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); 'mastaka' qualified by 'aṃkita' and 'tripuṇḍra'

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: appearance of Hiraṇyagarbha/Brahmā from the lotus as a secondary creator

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Tripundra
• Lotus

FAQs

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

It presents Brahmā’s origin as dependent on a higher reality and highlights the Tripuṇḍra as a Shaiva sign of surrender to Pati (Śiva), indicating that even the creator bears the mark of devotion and discipline.

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

The Tripuṇḍra is a visible Shaiva emblem connected with Bhasma and Linga-worship; it affirms Saguna devotion—honoring Śiva through sacred marks and ritual purity—while remembering Śiva as the supreme Lord behind creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Applying Tripuṇḍra (Bhasma) with reverence—ideally while remembering Śiva and reciting the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is implied as a daily Shaiva practice of purification and inner alignment.