Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

मामत्र संस्थितं भासाध्यासितो भगवान्हरिः । आह चोत्थाय ब्रह्माणं हसन्मां मधुरं सकृत्

Transliteration

māmatra saṃsthitaṃ bhāsādhyāsito bhagavānhariḥ | āha cotthāya brahmāṇaṃ hasanmāṃ madhuraṃ sakṛt

Translation

ഞാൻ അവിടെ ഇരിക്കുമ്പോൾ ഭസ്മം അണിഞ്ഞ ഭഗവാൻ ഹരി എഴുന്നേറ്റ്, മൃദുഹാസത്തോടെ ബ്രഹ്മാവിനോടും എന്നോടും ഒരിക്കൽ മധുരമായി സംസാരിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: देशाधिकरण (Place/देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• संस्थितम्: standing/placed
• संस्थितम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) → संस्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुँलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘standing/placed’ (qualifies माम्)

• भासा: by radiance/light
• भासा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भासा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; करण: ‘by/with radiance’

• अध्यासितः: seated/occupying
• अध्यासितः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अधि + आ + सद् (धातु) → अध्यासित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past participle), पुँलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘seated upon/occupying’

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष्य (appositive)

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आह: said
• आह: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह्/आह् (धातु; ‘to say’)
• Form: लिट् (perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उत्थाय: having risen
• उत्थाय: पूर्वक्रिया (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु) → उत्थाय (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having risen’

• ब्रह्माणम्: Brahmā
• ब्रह्माणम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• हसन्: smiling
• हसन्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial participle/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु) → हसत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: शतृ (present active participle/शतृ), पुँलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (converbial): ‘smiling’

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मधुरम्: sweetly
• मधुरम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (adverbial accusative): ‘sweetly’

• सकृत्: once
• सकृत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Frequency/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सकृत् (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/आवृत्ति-अव्यय (frequency adverb)

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the sanctity of bhasma as a Shaiva marker of humility and impermanence, and shows divine harmony—Hari approaches with sweetness and reverence, reflecting that all cosmic functions ultimately align with Śiva-tattva in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Hari being described as adorned with bhasma points to Saguna Shaiva practice (Tripuṇḍra/bhasma-dhāraṇa) associated with Linga worship—external marks reinforcing inward surrender to Śiva as Pati (Lord) beyond the roles of creation and preservation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Bhasma-dhāraṇa (applying sacred ash, traditionally as Tripuṇḍra) is implied—done with remembrance of Śiva and, where appropriate, with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating detachment and devotion.