Shloka 29

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

कर्तारं जगतां साक्षात्प्रकृतेश्च प्रवर्तकम् । सनातनमजं विष्णुं विरिंचिं विष्णुसंभवम्

Transliteration

kartāraṃ jagatāṃ sākṣātprakṛteśca pravartakam | sanātanamajaṃ viṣṇuṃ viriṃciṃ viṣṇusaṃbhavam

Translation

Dialah pembuat segala alam secara langsung dan penggerak Prakṛti (tabiat kebendaan)—Tuhan Viṣṇu yang kekal, tidak lahir dan tidak bermula; dan juga Viriñci (Brahmā), yang lahir daripada Viṣṇu.

Word by Word

• कर्तारम्: the doer / creator
• कर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• जगताम्: of the worlds
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• साक्षात्: directly / manifestly
• साक्षात्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• प्रकृतेः: of Prakṛti (nature)
• प्रकृतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रवर्तकम्: the initiator / impeller
• प्रवर्तकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + वृत् (धातु) → प्रवर्तक (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्तरि-ण्वुल्/णिच्-आधारित ‘one who sets in motion’

• सनातनम्: eternal
• सनातनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अजम्: unborn
• अजम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (‘unborn’)

• विष्णुम्: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विरिञ्चिम्: Viriñci (Brahmā)
• विरिञ्चिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरिञ्चि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विष्णुसंभवम्: born from Viṣṇu
• विष्णुसंभवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विष्णु + संभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘विष्णोः संभवः’ = born from Viṣṇu)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cosmogonic sequencing: prakṛti is 'set in motion' and the functional deities (Viṣṇu, Brahmā) are situated within a higher causality

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma (Virinchi)
• Prakriti

FAQs

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

It asserts a Shaiva Siddhanta hierarchy: the Supreme (Pati) is the real initiator of creation, setting Prakriti in motion, while Vishnu and Brahma function as empowered cosmic offices within that higher will.

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

By presenting the Supreme as the direct cause behind cosmic functions, it supports Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga worship) as devotion to the ultimate source from whom even Vishnu and Brahma derive their capacities.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva as the inner mover of Prakriti while japa of the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—is performed, offering the sense of doership back to the Lord who truly ‘sets in motion’ all activity.