Shloka 49

प्रलय-तत्त्वलयः, नीललोहित-रुद्रः, अष्टमूर्तिस्तवः, एवं ब्रह्मणो वैराग्यम्

Devanagari script

घृणी ददौ पुनः प्राणान् ब्रह्मपुत्रो महेश्वरः ब्रह्मणः प्रददौ प्राणान् आत्मस्थांस्तु तदा प्रभुः

Transliteration

ghṛṇī dadau punaḥ prāṇān brahmaputro maheśvaraḥ brahmaṇaḥ pradadau prāṇān ātmasthāṃstu tadā prabhuḥ

Translation

Then Mahādeva—called the son of Brahmā—out of compassion restored the life-breaths once again. The Lord bestowed upon Brahmā the prāṇas abiding within His own Self, re-establishing Brahmā’s vital power.

Word by Word

• घृणी (ghṛṇī): compassionate one / through compassion

• ददौ (dadau): gave, bestowed

• पुनः (punaḥ): again

• प्राणान् (prāṇān): life-breaths, vital forces

• ब्रह्मपुत्रः (brahmaputraḥ): Brahmā’s son (epithet used in the narrative)

• महेश्वरः (maheśvaraḥ): the Great Lord, Śiva

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ): to/for Brahmā

• प्रददौ (pradadau): granted, bestowed fully

• आत्मस्थान् (ātmasthān): abiding in the Self / situated in Himself

• तु (tu): indeed

• तदा (tadā): then

• प्रभुः (prabhuḥ): the Lord, the sovereign (Pati).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya; describing Shiva’s act within the story)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Maheshvara, Prabhu)
• Brahma

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Śiva (Pati) as the direct source and restorer of prāṇa; Linga-worship honors Him as the indwelling Lord who sustains and reanimates creation through grace (anugraha).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is shown as sovereign and compassionate, holding prāṇa within Himself and bestowing it outward—indicating His transcendence (Self-abiding) and immanence (life-giving presence) over all beings, including Brahmā.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to prāṇa as a Śaiva power: in Pāśupata-oriented practice, prāṇa-dhāraṇā and offering one’s vital energies to the Lord in Linga-pūjā align the pashu toward the Pati’s sustaining grace.