Shloka 30

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion

Devanagari script

विश्वात्मानं विधातारं धातारम्पंकजेक्षणम् । किमर्थं भाषसे मोहाद्वक्तुमर्हसि सत्वरम्

Transliteration

viśvātmānaṃ vidhātāraṃ dhātārampaṃkajekṣaṇam | kimarthaṃ bhāṣase mohādvaktumarhasi satvaram

Translation

Pourquoi, par égarement, parles-tu ainsi de Lui—l’Âme de l’univers, l’Ordonnateur et le Soutien, le Seigneur aux yeux de lotus ? Dis promptement la vérité.

Word by Word

• viśvātmānam: the universal Self
• viśvātmānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśva-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विश्वस्य आत्मा)

• vidhātāram: the creator/ordainer
• vidhātāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vi-dhā (धातु) → vidhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhātāram: the sustainer/supporter
• dhātāram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhā (धातु) → dhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• paṅkaja-īkṣaṇam: lotus-eyed
• paṅkaja-īkṣaṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṅkaja + īkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पङ्कज इव ईक्षणं यस्य/पङ्कजस्य ईक्षणम्)

• kim: why/what
• kim: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative particle)

• artham: purpose/reason
• artham: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘किमर्थम्’ इति प्रयोजनार्थे (for what purpose)

• bhāṣase: you speak
• bhāṣase: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhāṣ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• mohāt: out of delusion
• mohāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• vaktum: to speak
• vaktum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• arhasi: you ought/are fit
• arhasi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arh (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• satvaram: quickly/at once
• satvaram: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: satvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Brahmā

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: bondage-by-delusion motif: moha as a function of concealment (tirodhāna) that distorts right speech about the divine order

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It rebukes moha (delusion) and urges right discernment: the Lord is the inner Self and sustainer of all, so one should abandon confused speech and align with truth—an essential step toward liberation in Shaiva thought.

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

By identifying the Lord as the universal Self and sustainer, it supports Saguna upāsanā (devotional worship) such as Liṅga worship as a means to overcome delusion and recognize the indwelling Pati who upholds creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa with steady clarity—especially the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—combined with truthfulness (satya) and self-examination to remove moha; this is the inner discipline implied by “speak properly, swiftly.”