Shloka 190

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

Devanagari script

धर्मादयः प्रथमजाः सर्वे ते ब्रह्मणः सुताः भृग्वादयस्तु ते सृष्टा नवैते ब्रह्मवादिनः

Transliteration

dharmādayaḥ prathamajāḥ sarve te brahmaṇaḥ sutāḥ bhṛgvādayastu te sṛṣṭā navaite brahmavādinaḥ

Translation

ధర్ముడు మొదలైన మొదటిపుట్టినవారు అందరూ బ్రహ్మ యొక్క సుతులే. అనంతరం భృగువు మొదలైనవారు సృష్టింపబడ్డారు—ఈ తొమ్మిది మంది బ్రహ్మవాదులు, బ్రహ్మతత్త్వ ప్రవక్తలు.

Word by Word

• धर्मादयः: Dharma and others

• प्रथमजाः: first-born

• सर्वे: all

• ते: they

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā

• सुताः: sons

• भृग्वादयः: Bhṛgu and others

• तु: then/indeed

• ते: they

• सृष्टाः: created

• नव: nine

• एते: these

• ब्रह्मवादिनः: knowers/teachers of Brahman (Vedic wisdom)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Dharma
• Bhrigu

FAQs

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

It situates Linga-centered Shaiva teaching within the wider Vedic creation-lineage: Brahmā’s progeny and the brahmavādins preserve śruti and ritual authority, which later grounds Shiva’s Linga-pūjā as Veda-aligned rather than outside dharma.

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

Indirectly: by presenting Brahmā’s created sages as brahmavādins, it frames knowledge (brahma-jñāna) as a preparatory means; in Shaiva Siddhānta, such knowledge culminates when Pati (Śiva) grants grace, releasing the paśu from pāśa—beyond mere created orders.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific pūjā-vidhi or Pāśupata yoga technique is stated; the verse highlights the foundational role of brahmavādins—Vedic recitation, teaching, and dharma-based conduct that support later Shiva-upāsanā and Linga installation practices.