Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
विष्णु-ब्रह्म-विवाद-वर्णनम्
Description of the Viṣṇu–Brahmā Dispute and Brahmā’s Confusion
अहं त्वां सर्वदुःखेभ्यो रक्षिष्यामि न संशयः । ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य ब्रह्मा क्रोधसमन्वितः । को वा त्वमिति संभर्त्स्माब्रुवं मायाविमोहितः
ahaṃ tvāṃ sarvaduḥkhebhyo rakṣiṣyāmi na saṃśayaḥ | brahmovāca | iti śrutvā vacastasya brahmā krodhasamanvitaḥ | ko vā tvamiti saṃbhartsmābruvaṃ māyāvimohitaḥ
“Aku akan melindungimu daripada segala dukacita—tiada syak.” Brahmā bersabda: Mendengar kata-kata itu, Brahmā dipenuhi murka; diperdaya oleh Māyā, baginda menegur: “Siapakah engkau sebenarnya?”
Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Precursor to the Liṅgodbhava episode: Brahmā’s ego and misrecognition (māyā-vimohana) set the stage for Śiva’s self-manifest sign to reveal true lordship.
Significance: Didactic: warns that even cosmic deities, as paśu, fall into māyā; liberation requires Śiva’s anugraha (grace) beyond self-asserted authority.
Cosmic Event: pralaya background implied in the chapter’s setting (pre-creation contention)
FAQs
It shows how even Brahmā can be veiled by Māyā; when ego and anger arise, recognition of Śiva as the supreme Pati is obscured, and true refuge from sorrow is missed.
The verse points to the need for humble recognition of the Lord’s protecting grace; in Linga/Saguṇa worship, the devotee approaches Śiva not as an object to challenge but as the compassionate protector beyond the creator’s pride.
A practical takeaway is to calm anger and ego through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a devotional attitude of śaraṇāgati (taking refuge), which counters Māyā’s delusion.