Shloka 39

Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise

Devanagari script

तं ब्रह्मनिर्वाणसमाधिमाश्रितं व्युपाश्रितं गिरिशं योगकक्षाम् । सलोकपाला मुनयो मनूनाम् आद्यं मनुं प्राञ्जलय: प्रणेमु: ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ brahma-nirvāṇa-samādhim āśritaṁ vyupāśritaṁ giriśaṁ yoga-kakṣām sa-loka-pālā munayo manūnām ādyaṁ manuṁ prāñjalayaḥ praṇemuḥ

Translation

All the sages and the guardians of the worlds, led by Indra, bowed with folded hands to Girīśa, Lord Śiva. Clad in saffron and absorbed in samādhi, he appeared as the foremost among the sages.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• ब्रह्मनिर्वाणसमाधिम्: the samādhi of brahma-nirvāṇa
• ब्रह्मनिर्वाणसमाधिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + निर्वाण (प्रातिपदिक) + समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘samādhi of brahma-nirvāṇa’

• आश्रितम्: having resorted to
• आश्रितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘having resorted to/abiding in’ (qualifies तम्)

• व्युपाश्रितम्: fully resorted to
• व्युपाश्रितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-उप-आ-श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fully resorted to/closely attended’

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘lord of the mountain(s)’ (Śiva)

• योगकक्षाम्: the seat/abode of yoga
• योगकक्षाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + कक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष ‘yoga-seat/abode of yoga’

• स: with
• स: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/सह-भावार्थक अव्यय ‘with’ used in composition; here separated from compound

• लोकपालाः: world-protectors
• लोकपालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/कर्ता), बहुवचन; ‘guardians of the worlds’

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• मनूनाम्: of the Manus
• मनूनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• आद्यम्: the first/primeval
• आद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifies मनुम्

• मनुम्: Manu
• मनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; apposition to तम् (as object of praṇemuḥ)

• प्राञ्जलयः: with folded hands
• प्राञ्जलयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘with joined palms’ (hands folded)

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘they bowed’

Purport

In this verse the word brahmānanda is significant. This brahmānanda, or brahma-nirvāṇa, is explained by Prahlāda Mahārāja. When one is completely absorbed in the adhokṣaja, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond the sense perception of materialistic persons, one is situated in brahmānanda.

Characters & Entities

• Lord Śiva (Girīśa)
• Svāyambhuva Manu
• Lokapālas (guardians of the worlds)
• Sages (Munis)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Shiva’s samadhi (brahma-nirvana-samadhi)?

This verse describes Śiva as absorbed in brahma-nirvāṇa-samādhi—deep spiritual trance—showing his exalted yogic stature and complete withdrawal into divine realization.

Why did the sages and the lokapalas offer obeisances to Svayambhuva Manu here?

In this scene they approach the sacred assembly around Śiva; recognizing Svāyambhuva Manu as the first Manu and a foremost authority for dharma and governance, they honor him with folded hands.

Practical application of samadhi and reverence for dharma-authorities in modern life?

Cultivate regular, quiet spiritual practice (a “yoga-kakṣā” in your routine) and maintain humility by respecting genuine spiritual and ethical leadership, which stabilizes both inner life and social conduct.