Shloka 14

पिप्पलादावतारकथनम्

Account of the Pippalāda Avatāra

Devanagari script

तच्छ्रुत्वा देववचनं ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः । सर्वं शशंस तत्त्वेन त्वष्टुश्चैव चिकीर्षितम्

Transliteration

tacchrutvā devavacanaṃ brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ | sarvaṃ śaśaṃsa tattvena tvaṣṭuścaiva cikīrṣitam

Translation

Als Brahmā, der Ahnvater der Welten, die Worte der Götter vernahm, legte er alles wahrheitsgemäß der Wirklichkeit entsprechend dar, auch das, was Tvaṣṭṛ auszuführen beabsichtigte.

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (object of hearing)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: पूर्वकाल (Absolutive relation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययीभावरूप कृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having heard)

• देव-वचनम्: the words of the gods
• देव-वचनम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: देवानां वचनम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• लोक-पितामहः: the grandsire of the world
• लोक-पितामहः: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: लोकस्य पितामहः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ब्रह्मणः विशेषण/उपाधि

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'everything'

• शशंस: he related / explained
• शशंस: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शंस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• तत्त्वेन: truthfully / in reality
• तत्त्वेन: करण (Karaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; करण/प्रकारवाचक (in accordance with truth, truly)

• त्वष्टुः: of Tvaṣṭṛ
• त्वष्टुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: अवधारण (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• चिकीर्षितम्: the intended act / what was planned to be done
• चिकीर्षितम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: देशिदेरिवेटिव: देसिदेरटिव-धातु 'चिकीर्ष' (कृ + सन्) + क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'to be done/intended'

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana; verse describes Brahmā’s response)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Brahmā’s ‘tattvena’ disclosure models right discernment (viveka) about causal chains behind suffering; in Śaiva Siddhānta, understanding pāśa (bondage mechanisms) is preparatory to seeking Śiva’s liberating grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Devas
• Tvastr

FAQs

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

It highlights tattva—speaking and acting in alignment with truth—showing that even cosmic governance (by Brahmā and the devas) must rest on clear knowledge of intention and reality, a key Shaiva concern for right discernment on the path toward liberation.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it supports Saguna Shiva devotion indirectly: Purāṇic events are presented as purposeful (cikīrṣita) and truth-governed (tattvena), encouraging devotees to trust the divinely ordered unfolding that culminates in Shiva’s protective and transformative interventions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya and tattva-smṛti: before japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya), mentally clarify intention and align speech with truth; this inner purity supports effective mantra practice and steady Shiva-bhakti.