Shloka 35

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । एवं तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा पुरुषस्य महात्मनः । क्षणं न किंचित्प्रावोचत्स स्रष्टा चातिविस्मितः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | evaṃ tasya vacaḥ śrutvā puruṣasya mahātmanaḥ | kṣaṇaṃ na kiṃcitprāvocatsa sraṣṭā cātivismitaḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Having thus heard the words of that great-souled Supreme Person, the Creator (Brahmā) remained silent for a moment, saying nothing—utterly astonished.

Word by Word

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• evam: thus
• evam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• tasya: of him/of that
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vacaḥ: speech/words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacana/vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śru (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), indeclinable verbal form

• puruṣasya: of the man/person
• puruṣasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• mahātmanaḥ: of the great-souled
• mahātmanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: mahān ātmā yasya

• kṣaṇam: for a moment
• kṣaṇam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); adverbial accusative (कालवाचक)

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-निपात)

• kiṃcit: anything
• kiṃcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kiṃcid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); indefinite pronoun

• prāvocat: spoke/uttered
• prāvocat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) with pra-
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• sraṣṭā: the creator
• sraṣṭā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraṣṭṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from √sṛj)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); apposition to saḥ

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction particle (समुच्चय-निपात)

• ati-vismitaḥ: very astonished
• ati-vismitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ati (अव्यय) + vismita (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √smi)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); अव्ययीभाव: ati + vismita = very astonished

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Purusha (Supreme Person)

FAQs

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

It highlights the supremacy of the Divine Lord (Pati) whose command and wisdom can overwhelm even Brahmā, reminding the seeker that true knowledge and liberation arise from surrender to the Highest Reality beyond limited cosmic roles.

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

Brahmā’s silence before the Supreme Person reflects the limits of intellect before the Lord’s presence; in Shaiva worship, the Liṅga serves as the accessible Saguna focus through which the devotee approaches the transcendent Lord who surpasses all creators and created forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate silent contemplation (mauna) after scriptural hearing, then steady the mind in japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a disciplined response to divine instruction.