Shloka 182

Adhyaya 70: आदिसर्गः—महत्-अहङ्कार-तन्मात्रा-भूतसृष्टिः, ब्रह्माण्डावरणम्, प्रजासर्गः, त्रिमूर्ति-शैवाधिष्ठानम्

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मऽस् एलेवेन् सोन्स् देवानृषींश् च महतो गदतस्तान् निबोधत मरीचिभृग्वङ्गिरसं पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुम्

Transliteration

Brahma's eleven sons devānṛṣīṃś ca mahato gadatastān nibodhata marīcibhṛgvaṅgirasaṃ pulastyaṃ pulahaṃ kratum

Translation

महतो ब्रह्मणो वचनं निबोधत शृणुत च—तस्य मनसः प्रसूताः एकादश पुत्राः, देवा ऋषयश्च; मरीचिं भृगुमङ्गिरसं पुलस्त्यं पुलहं क्रतुं चादीन्॥

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā (the creator)

• एकादश: eleven

• सूनून्/सूनवः: sons, progeny

• देवान्: gods

• ऋषीन्: sages

• च: and

• महतः: of the great one / the great being

• गदतः: while speaking, declaring

• तान्: those (names)

• निबोधत: understand, take note

• मरीचिः: Marīci (a Prajāpati)

• भृगुः: Bhṛgu (a sage/Prajāpati)

• अङ्गिराः: Aṅgiras (a sage/Prajāpati)

• पुलस्त्यः: Pulastya

• पुलहः: Pulaha

• क्रतुः: Kratu.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Brahmā’s account within the creation narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Marici
• Bhrigu
• Angiras
• Pulastya
• Pulaha
• Kratu

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It situates Linga-centered Shaiva cosmology within sṛṣṭi: even Brahmā’s progeny (devas and ṛṣis) function as secondary agents, while ultimate sovereignty belongs to Pati (Śiva), the ground of order that Linga worship points to.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Implicitly, it shows Shiva-tattva as Pati—transcendent Lord beyond the created hierarchy—while Brahmā and the Prajāpatis are instrumental causes within manifestation, not the final cause.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is doctrinal: creation unfolds through ṛṣi-lineages, which later transmit mantra, vrata, and Pāśupata-oriented disciplines that culminate in devotion to the Linga as the sign of Pati.