Shloka 40
स तूपलभ्यागतमात्मयोनिं सुरासुरेशैरभिवन्दिताङ्घ्रि: । उत्थाय चक्रे शिरसाभिवन्दन- मर्हत्तम: कस्य यथैव विष्णु: ॥ ४० ॥
sa tūpalabhyāgatam ātma-yoniṁ surāsureśair abhivanditāṅghriḥ utthāya cakre śirasābhivandanam arhattamaḥ kasya yathaiva viṣṇuḥ
Though Śiva’s lotus feet were worshiped by both devas and asuras, when he saw Brahmā, the self-born (ātma-yoni), present in the assembly, he at once rose, bowed his head, and touched Brahmā’s lotus feet in reverence—just as Vāmanadeva offered obeisances to Kaśyapa Muni.
Kaśyapa Muni was in the category of the living entities, but he had a transcendental son, Vāmanadeva, who was an incarnation of Viṣṇu. Thus although Lord Viṣṇu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He offered His respects to Kaśyapa Muni. Similarly, when Lord Kṛṣṇa was a child He used to offer His respectful obeisances to His mother and father, Nanda and Yaśodā. Also, at the Battle of Kurukṣetra, Lord Kṛṣṇa touched the feet of Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira because the King was His elder. It appears, then, that the Personality of Godhead, Lord Śiva and other devotees, in spite of their being situated in exalted positions, instructed by practical example how to offer obeisances to their superiors. Lord Śiva offered his respectful obeisances to Brahmā because Brahmā was his father, just as Kaśyapa Muni was the father of Vāmana.
FAQs
This verse shows Lord Śiva immediately rising and bowing to Brahmā, teaching that honoring highly empowered beings is part of dharma and devotional culture.
Because Brahmā, the self-born creator and a greatly venerable authority, arrived at the assembly; Śiva demonstrated proper etiquette and humility by honoring him.
Stand up for and honor genuine elders, teachers, and spiritual authorities; humility protects one from pride-driven conflict, like the tensions seen in the Dakṣa episode.