Shloka 34

Brahmacarya-Upāya: Jñāna, Śauca, and the Mind’s Role in Desire (शान्ति पर्व, अध्याय २०७)

Devanagari script

वेदविद्याविधातारं ब्रह्माणममितद्युतिम्‌ । भूतमातृगणाध्यक्ष॑ विरूपाक्षं च सोडसृजत्‌,वे ही वेदविद्याको धारण करनेवाले अमित तेजस्वी ब्रह्मा हुए। फिर श्रीहरिने भूतों और मातृगणोंके अध्यक्ष विरूपाक्ष (रुद्र) की रचना की

Transliteration

vedavidyāvidhātāraṃ brahmāṇam amitadyutim | bhūtamātṛgaṇādhyakṣaṃ virūpākṣaṃ ca so 'sṛjat ||

Translation

Bhīṣma berkata: Dia melahirkan Brahmā yang bercahaya tanpa batas, sang pengatur dan pemegang ilmu Veda. Sesudah itu Dia mencipta Virūpākṣa (Rudra), ketua atas segala makhluk dan rombongan Para Ibu (Mātṛgaṇa).

Word by Word

वेदविद्याVedic knowledge

विधातारम्the ordainer/creator

ब्रह्माणम्Brahmā

अमितद्युतिम्of immeasurable splendor

भूतमातृगणाध्यक्षम्the lord of the hosts of beings and Mothers (Mātṛ-gaṇas)

विरूपाक्षम्Virūpākṣa (Rudra/Śiva)

चand

सःhe

उदसृजत्created/produced

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Brahmā

Virūpākṣa (Rudra)

Bhūtas

Mātṛgaṇas (Mātṛs)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Cosmic authority is portrayed as structured and dharmic: Vedic knowledge is entrusted to Brahmā as the organizer of sacred order, while Rudra/Virūpākṣa is appointed as an overseer of beings and powerful divine forces (the Mātṛs), emphasizing responsibility and governance rather than arbitrary power.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a sequence of creation: first Brahmā, radiant and connected with the Veda, is brought forth; then Virūpākṣa (Rudra) is created and assigned oversight of beings and the Mātṛ-hosts, indicating a delegated cosmic administration.