Shloka 17

Brahmā–Viṣṇu Garva-vādaḥ

The Dispute of Pride Between Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

अस्त्रं पाशुपतं घोरं संदधे विष्णुवक्षसि । ततस्तदुत्थितं व्योम्नि तपनायुतसन्निभम्

Transliteration

astraṃ pāśupataṃ ghoraṃ saṃdadhe viṣṇuvakṣasi | tatastadutthitaṃ vyomni tapanāyutasannibham

Translation

He fixed the dreadful Pāśupata weapon upon Viṣṇu’s chest. Then that weapon rose up into the sky, blazing like ten thousand suns.

Word by Word

• astram: a weapon/missile
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• pāśupatam: Pāśupata (of Paśupati)
• pāśupatam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāśupata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• ghoram: terrible
• ghoram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• saṃdadhe: he fixed/aimed/placed
• saṃdadhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-dhā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• viṣṇu-vakṣasi: on Vishnu’s chest
• viṣṇu-vakṣasi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (on Vishnu’s chest)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anantarya (काल/अनन्तर्य)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रमसूचक-अव्यय (then)

• tat: that (weapon)
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• utthitam: arisen, risen up
• utthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ut-sthā (धातु) → utthita (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• vyomni: in the sky
• vyomni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyoman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• tapana-āyuta-sannibham: resembling ten thousand suns
• tapana-āyuta-sannibham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapana (प्रातिपदिक) + āyuta (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (like ten-thousand suns)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sky-illumination likened to ‘ten-thousand suns’ (hyperbolic cosmic radiance)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the irresistible sovereignty of Śiva as Paśupati (the Lord of all beings), whose divine power (śakti) surpasses even the greatest cosmic protectors, pointing to Pati as the ultimate refuge beyond all created forces.

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

By depicting Śiva’s manifest power as the source of supreme protection and dissolution, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through His revealed forms and powers—ultimately culminating in reverence for the Liṅga as the sign of the highest reality made accessible to devotees.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with traditional Śaiva supports like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and devotion.