Shloka 41

विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्

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

Devanagari script

सृष्टा बुद्धिर्मया तस्यामहंकारस्त्रिधा ततः । तन्मात्रं पंकजं तस्मान्मनोदेहेन्द्रियाणि च

Transliteration

sṛṣṭā buddhirmayā tasyāmahaṃkārastridhā tataḥ | tanmātraṃ paṃkajaṃ tasmānmanodehendriyāṇi ca

Translation

“Daripadanya Aku mencipta buddhi (akal penentu). Kemudian daripada buddhi itu timbul ahaṅkāra (rasa keakuan) dalam tiga bentuk. Daripadanya lahir tanmātra (unsur halus) serta ‘yang lahir dari teratai’ (prinsip kosmik); dan daripadanya juga muncul minda, tubuh, dan pancaindera.”

Word by Word

• सृष्टा: created
• सृष्टा: Kriya/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृज् (धातु) → सृष्ट (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; ‘created’

• बुद्धिः: intellect (buddhi)
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; एकवचन, तृतीया (Instrumental)

• तस्याम्: in that (buddhi)
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, एकवचन, सप्तमी (Locative)

• अहंकारः: ego (ahaṃkāra)
• अहंकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• त्रिधा: threefold
• त्रिधा: Prakara (प्रकार/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (in three ways)

• ततः: thereupon/from that
• ततः: Apadana/Sequence (अपादान/अनन्तर)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय; अपादान/अनन्तरार्थ (from that/thereupon)

• तन्मात्रम्: tanmātra (subtle element)
• तन्मात्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (तस्य मात्रा = subtle element)

• पङ्कजम्: lotus
• पङ्कजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा; उपमान/विशेष्य (lotus)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुं/नपुंसक, एकवचन, पञ्चमी (Ablative)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• देह: body
• देह: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• इन्द्रियाणि: sense organs
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, बहुवचन, प्रथमा (Nominative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: tattva-pariṇāma sequence: buddhi → trividha ahaṃkāra → tanmātras → manas/indriyas/deha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse maps the unfolding of bondage: buddhi, threefold ahaṅkāra, tanmātras, and then mind–body–senses. In Shaiva Siddhanta this shows how the pashu (individual) becomes enmeshed in pasha (limitations); liberation comes by turning buddhi toward Pati (Shiva) and transcending ego-driven identification.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship trains the mind and buddhi to rest in Shiva rather than in ahaṅkāra and the senses. By concentrating on the Linga as Shiva’s accessible form, the devotee gradually loosens identification with body and sense-objects that arise in this created sequence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint and mantra-japa: repeat the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while meditating on Shiva beyond mind and ego. Supporting disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa can be used as reminders to rise above bodily identity and direct buddhi toward Shiva.