Shloka 27

Brahmā–Viṣṇu Garva-vādaḥ

The Dispute of Pride Between Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वैवमीशममराः संतोषसलिलेक्षणाः । दंडवद्दूरतो वत्स नमश्चक्रुर्महागणाः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvaivamīśamamarāḥ saṃtoṣasalilekṣaṇāḥ | daṃḍavaddūrato vatsa namaścakrurmahāgaṇāḥ

Translation

Seeing the Lord thus, the gods—whose eyes were filled with tears born of joy—bowed from afar, prostrating like a staff, and the great hosts offered their reverent salutations.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया/Non-finite verb; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund)

• एवम्: thus, in this way
• एवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (manner adverb)

• ईशम्: the Lord
• ईशम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अमराः: the gods
• अमराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• संतोष-सलिल-ईक्षणाः: with eyes filled with tears of joy
• संतोष-सलिल-ईक्षणाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संतोष (प्रातिपदिक) + सलिल (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः: 'संतोषसलिलं (आनन्दाश्रु) ईक्षणयोः यस्य ते' = 'whose eyes had tears of joy'

• दण्डवत्: prostrate (like a staff)
• दण्डवत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय/तद्धितान्त)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'like a staff', i.e., prostrate)

• दूरतः: from a distance
• दूरतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Source-location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दूरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'from afar')

• वत्स: O dear (child)
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वत्स (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Karma (कर्म/Object of 'did salutation')
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्राय (indeclinable usage of 'namas'); निपात

• चक्रुः: did, performed
• चक्रुः: Kriyā (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• महागणाः: the great hosts (of gods)
• महागणाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to amarāḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः: 'महान्तः गणाः'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: In Kāśī’s devotional imagination, even devas approach Viśveśvara with humility; their daṇḍavat-pranāma models the pilgrim’s surrender before the Jyotirliṅga’s living presence.

Significance: Prostration (namaskāra) and tearful devotion are presented as signs of softened ego, conducive to receiving Śiva’s grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights bhakti as an immediate response to Śiva-darśana: the heart melts into joyful tears, and ego dissolves into complete surrender (daṇḍavat-prāṇāma), aligning the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The devas respond to the manifest Lord (saguṇa Īśa) with embodied reverence—seeing, bowing, and offering namaskāra—mirroring how devotees approach the Liṅga as Śiva’s accessible presence for worship and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daṇḍavat-prāṇāma and heartfelt namaskāra before the Śiva-liṅga while repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating humility and devotional absorption (bhāva) as the mind’s offering.