Shloka 23

Brahmā–Viṣṇu Garva-vādaḥ

The Dispute of Pride Between Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वैवममरा हृष्टाः पदंतत्पारमेश्वरम् । प्रणेमुः प्रणवाकारं प्रविष्टास्तत्र सद्मनि

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvaivamamarā hṛṣṭāḥ padaṃtatpārameśvaram | praṇemuḥ praṇavākāraṃ praviṣṭāstatra sadmani

Translation

एवं तद् परमेश्वरपदं दृष्ट्वा अमराः हृष्टाः अभवन्। ते प्रणवाकारं प्रभुं प्रणेमुः, ततः तस्मिन् दिव्यसद्मनि प्रविविशुः॥

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/त्वान्त), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (prior action), अव्ययवत् प्रयोग

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• अमराः: the gods
• अमराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• हृष्टाः: delighted
• हृष्टाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् अमराः इति

• पदम्: the abode/state
• पदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् पदम् इति

• पारमेश्वरम्: supreme-lordly/divine (of the Supreme Lord)
• पारमेश्वरम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम-ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परमस्य ईश्वरः → पारमेश्वर), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् पदम् इति

• प्रणेमुः: they bowed down
• प्रणेमुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• प्रणवाकारम्: the form of Oṃ (praṇava)
• प्रणवाकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव-आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्रणवस्य आकारः), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रविष्टाः: having entered / entered
• प्रविष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-विश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used predicatively), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘अमराः’ इत्यस्य विधेय

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• सद्मनि: in the mansion/abode
• सद्मनि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सद्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Oṃkāreśvara

Sthala Purana: The Lord is praised as praṇavākāra (Oṃ embodied); Oṃkāreśvara is revered as Śiva’s manifestation in the form/sign of Oṃ, emphasizing praṇava as the gateway to His abode.

Significance: Pilgrims seek alignment with praṇava and īśvara-bhāva; the verse highlights bowing to Oṃ-formed Śiva as entry into divine presence.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that realization of Shiva’s supreme abode naturally culminates in joy, surrender, and entry into divine proximity—devotion (praṇāma) to Parameśvara becomes the doorway to liberation-oriented grace.

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

By describing Shiva as “praṇavākāra” (Oṁ embodied), the verse connects Saguna worship to a sacred symbol-manifestation; in Shaiva practice, approaching Shiva through form (including Linga) is harmonized with contemplating his essence as Praṇava.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Oṁ as Shiva (Praṇava-dhyāna) and perform namaskāra/prostration with bhakti; this inner surrender aligns with Shaiva sādhana and supports japa such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”