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Shloka 2

Brahmā–Viṣṇu Garva-vādaḥ

The Dispute of Pride Between Brahmā and Viṣṇu

यदृच्छया गतस्तत्र ब्रह्मा ब्रह्मविदांवरः । अपृच्छत्पुंडरीकाक्षं शयनं सर्वसुन्दरम्

yadṛcchayā gatastatra brahmā brahmavidāṃvaraḥ | apṛcchatpuṃḍarīkākṣaṃ śayanaṃ sarvasundaram

യദൃച്ഛയായി അവിടെ ബ്രഹ്മവിദ്യയിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് എത്തി. അത്യന്തം സുന്ദരമായ ശയനത്തിൽ ശയിച്ചിരുന്ന പുണ്ഡരീകാക്ഷൻ (വിഷ്ണു)നെ അദ്ദേഹം ചോദ്യം ചെയ്തു।

यदृच्छयाby chance
यदृच्छया:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootयदृच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (by chance)
गतःhaving gone
गतः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeVerb
Rootगम् (धातु)
Formकृदन्त (क्त-प्रत्यय, past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
तत्रthere
तत्र:
देशाधिकरण (Locative/Place)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र (अव्यय)
Formदेशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)
ब्रह्माBrahmā
ब्रह्मा:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन
ब्रह्मविदाम्of the knowers of Brahman
ब्रह्मविदाम्:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootब्रह्मविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन
वरःthe best
वरः:
विधेय (Predicate nominative)
TypeNoun
Rootवर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (समासार्थे: ब्रह्मविदां वरः = among Brahman-knowers, the best)
अपृच्छत्asked
अपृच्छत्:
क्रिया (Verb/Action)
TypeVerb
Rootप्रच्छ् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद
पुण्डरीकाक्षम्the lotus-eyed one (Viṣṇu)
पुण्डरीकाक्षम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootपुण्डरीक + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास (पुण्डरीक इव अक्षिणी यस्य)
शयनम्the resting posture/bed
शयनम्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootशयन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन
सर्वसुन्दरम्most beautiful / wholly beautiful
सर्वसुन्दरम्:
विशेषण (Adjectival)
TypeAdjective
Rootसर्व + सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; विशेषण (of शयनम्)

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

B
Brahma
V
Vishnu

FAQs

It sets up the classic Purāṇic inquiry where even Brahmā and Viṣṇu—cosmic authorities—enter a posture of questioning, implying that the highest truth (Pati, Śiva) transcends the limited certainty of created offices and is known through right inquiry and grace.

The narrative context in the Vidyeśvara/Viśveśvara stream typically leads toward recognizing Śiva as the supreme reality who is approachable in Saguna form—especially through the Liṅga—when the gods themselves seek clarity about the Supreme.

The takeaway is humility and inquiry before the Supreme; a practical Shaiva application is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with contemplative questioning—seeking Śiva’s revelation rather than relying only on status or intellect.