Shloka 12

Brahmā–Viṣṇu Garva-vādaḥ

The Dispute of Pride Between Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

क्षिपंतः पुष्पवर्षाणि पश्यंतः स्वैरमंबरे । सुपर्णवाहनस्तत्र क्रुद्धो वै ब्रह्मवक्षसि

Transliteration

kṣipaṃtaḥ puṣpavarṣāṇi paśyaṃtaḥ svairamaṃbare | suparṇavāhanastatra kruddho vai brahmavakṣasi

Translation

Während sie Blumenregen streuten und frei den Himmel betrachteten, geriet dort der Herr, der auf Garuḍa reitet, über Brahmās Anmaßung in Zorn.

Word by Word

• क्षिपन्तः: throwing
• क्षिपन्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Kartā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṣip (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle, Śatṛ); पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'throwing'

• पुष्प-वर्षाणि: showers of flowers
• पुष्प-वर्षाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'पुष्पाणां वर्षाणि' (showers of flowers)

• पश्यन्तः: watching
• पश्यन्तः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Kartā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'seeing/watching'

• स्वैरम्: freely
• स्वैरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svaira (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-प्रयोगवत् क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative used as indeclinable): 'at will/freely'

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सुपर्ण-वाहनः: the one with Garuḍa as his mount (Viṣṇu)
• सुपर्ण-वाहनः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suparṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'सुपर्णस्य वाहनः' (he whose vehicle is Garuḍa)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: क्रियाविशेषण (Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb): 'there'

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Kartā-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु) → kruddha (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'angered'

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्धसूचक निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• ब्रह्म-वक्षसि: on Brahmā’s chest
• ब्रह्म-वक्षसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: 'ब्रह्मणः वक्षसि' (on Brahmā's chest)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As the devas shower flowers on the combatants, the narrative highlights how even ‘divine’ celebration can accompany delusion; the impending revelation of Viśveśvara redirects worship from partisan admiration to the supreme Lord.

Significance: Teaches discrimination in worship: offerings and praise are fruitful when oriented to Śiva as Pati, not to ego-driven supremacy contests.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Garuḍa

FAQs

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

It highlights how even exalted deities can be veiled by pride; Shaiva Siddhanta reads such moments as the soul’s (paśu’s) bondage (pāśa) of ego being exposed so that surrender to the Supreme Lord (Pati—Śiva) may arise.

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

The episode belongs to the Purana’s larger teaching that Brahmā and Viṣṇu are not ultimate; the Liṅga symbolizes Śiva’s transcendent supremacy beyond form, while Saguna worship trains devotion and humility so the devotee does not fall into ‘brahmavakṣas’—the hardening of self-importance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter ego with daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and to offer flowers to the Liṅga with the attitude of surrender, not display.