Shloka 17

एकार्णव-सृष्टिक्रमः, ब्रह्म-विष्णु-परस्परप्रवेशः, शिवस्य आगमनं च

Devanagari script

एवं ब्रुवन्तं वैकुण्ठं प्रत्युवाच पितामहः मायया मोहितः शंभोर् अविज्ञाय जनार्दनम्

Transliteration

evaṃ bruvantaṃ vaikuṇṭhaṃ pratyuvāca pitāmahaḥ māyayā mohitaḥ śaṃbhor avijñāya janārdanam

Translation

当毗昆陀如是言时，毗多摩诃（梵天）答复于他——为商布（湿婆）之摩耶所迷，故未能如实识得阇那尔达那（毗湿奴）。

Word by Word

• evaṃ: thus

• bruvantam: (to) the one speaking

• vaikuṇṭham: Vaikuṇṭha (Viṣṇu)

• pratyuvāca: replied (in return)

• pitāmahaḥ: Pitāmaha, Brahmā

• māyayā: by Māyā (veiling power)

• mohitaḥ: deluded, bewildered

• śaṃbhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)

• avijñāya: not recognizing, not knowing rightly

• janārdanam: Janārdana (Viṣṇu, remover of distress)

Speaker

Brahma (Pitāmaha)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati whose Māyā can veil even exalted beings; Linga-worship is implied as a means to pierce delusion and reorient the pashu (soul) toward Śiva’s truth and grace.

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

Śiva-tattva is shown as sovereign: Śambhu’s Māyā has the power of concealment (tirodhāna), regulating recognition and non-recognition among beings, thus revealing Śiva as the ultimate Lord beyond ordinary cognition.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the yogic necessity of removing moha (delusion)—a core aim of Pāśupata-oriented discipline and Śiva-pūjā—so the pashu can transcend pāśa (bondage) and gain right recognition (jñāna) through Śiva’s anugraha (grace).