Shloka 27

Liṅga–Bera Pūjā: Nitya-Arcana and Upacāras as an Accessible Sādhana (लिङ्गबेरपूजा-विधानम्)

Devanagari script

पुरा कल्पे महाकाले प्रपन्ने लोकविश्रुते । आयुध्येतां महात्मानौ ब्रह्मविष्णू परस्परम्

Transliteration

purā kalpe mahākāle prapanne lokaviśrute | āyudhyetāṃ mahātmānau brahmaviṣṇū parasparam

Translation

ในกัลป์ก่อน ณ มหากาลอันเลื่องลือไปทั่วโลกนั้น มหาวิญญาณทั้งสองคือพรหมาและวิษณุได้เข้าต่อสู้กันเอง

Word by Word

• पुरा: formerly, in the past
• पुरा: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कल्पे: in a kalpa (aeon)
• कल्पे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• महाकाले: in the great time
• महाकाले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् कालः)

• प्रपन्ने: when (it) had come/arrived
• प्रपन्ने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रपन्न (कृदन्त; √पद्/पद्यते)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the time/kalpa)

• लोकविश्रुते: (in the time) renowned in the world
• लोकविश्रुते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक-विश्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (लोके विश्रुतः = world-renowned)

• आयुध्येताम्: the two fought
• आयुध्येताम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√युध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• महात्मानौ: the two great-souled ones
• महात्मानौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), द्विवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

• ब्रह्म: Brahmā
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समुच्चयस्य प्रथमाङ्ग (first member of a coordinative pair)

• विष्णू: Viṣṇu
• विष्णू: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समुच्चयस्य द्वितीयाङ्ग (second member of a coordinative pair)

• परस्परम्: each other, mutually
• परस्परम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परस्पर (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The cosmic quarrel of Brahmā and Viṣṇu becomes the narrative trigger for Śiva’s Liṅga-stambha manifestation, a paradigmatic ‘self-revelation’ motif later localized in Jyotirliṅga sthala-purāṇas.

Significance: Reminds pilgrims that even the highest cosmic offices are within māyā; humility and surrender to Śiva are prerequisites for grace.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa (former aeon); cosmic conflict among deities

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It introduces the archetypal rivalry of limited cosmic powers (Brahmā and Viṣṇu) that arises from ego and partial knowledge, preparing the teaching that true supremacy belongs to Pati (Śiva) who transcends and grounds all functions.

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

This conflict sets the narrative context for the manifestation of Śiva’s sign (Liṅga/Jyotirliṅga) as the undeniable axis of reality, through which Brahmā and Viṣṇu recognize a higher, all-pervading Lord beyond their roles.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

As a takeaway, the verse points to humility and surrender (śaraṇāgati): steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to dissolve rivalry and align the mind with Śiva as the supreme refuge.