Shloka 21

गृहस्थ-जीवनसंस्काराः तथा पुत्रजन्म-शुभलक्षणवर्णनम् / Household Saṃskāras and the Auspicious Portents of a Son’s Birth

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मा बृहस्पतियुतो देवो गरुडवाहनः । नन्दिभृङ्गि समायुक्तो गौर्य्या सह वृषध्वजः

Transliteration

brahmā bṛhaspatiyuto devo garuḍavāhanaḥ | nandibhṛṅgi samāyukto gauryyā saha vṛṣadhvajaḥ

Translation

There were Brahmā accompanied by Bṛhaspati, and also the god who rides Garuḍa (Viṣṇu); and the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva) as well—together with Gaurī—attended by Nandī and Bhṛṅgī.

Word by Word

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

• बृहस्पति-युतः: accompanied by Bṛhaspati
• बृहस्पति-युतः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहस्पति (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past participle)

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गरुड-वाहनः: (he) whose vehicle is Garuḍa
• गरुड-वाहनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गरुड (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative)

• नन्दि-भृङ्गि: Nandi and Bhṛṅgi
• नन्दि-भृङ्गि: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + भृङ्गि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (pair treated as a unit/name)

• समायुक्तः: joined/associated
• समायुक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• गौर्य्या: with Gaurī
• गौर्य्या: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्ग/सह-शब्दः (particle meaning 'with')

• वृष-ध्वजः: the bull-bannered (Śiva)
• वृष-ध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः (banner marked with bull)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; depicts a cosmic ‘pariṣad’ where Brahmā and Viṣṇu are present alongside Śiva with Gaurī, emphasizing Śiva’s supremacy/centrality in the assembly context of the Śatarudrasaṃhitā.

Significance: Darśana of Umāpati with Gaurī, attended by Nandī and Bhṛṅgī, is archetypal of temple darśana; it implies protection, stability (sthiti), and eligibility for grace through devotion.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Brihaspati
• Garuḍa
• Nandi
• Bhṛṅgī

FAQs

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

It portrays the cosmic harmony where Brahmā, Viṣṇu, and Śiva (with Gaurī) are present together, implying that all divine functions culminate in reverence to Śiva as Pati (the Lord) while remaining accessible in His saguna (worshipful) form.

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

By naming Śiva as Vṛṣadhvaja and placing Him with Gaurī and His gaṇa-attendants (Nandī, Bhṛṅgī), the verse emphasizes saguna contemplation—devotees can approach the transcendent Lord through concrete iconography, devotion, and ritual worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna on Śiva as Vṛṣadhvaja with Gaurī, invoking devotion through the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and honoring Nandī as the ideal devotee before beginning Liṅga-pūjā.