Shloka 7

Brahmā–Viṣṇu Garva-vādaḥ

The Dispute of Pride Between Brahmā and Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

पितामहश्च जगतः पाता च तव वत्सक । विष्णुरुवाच । मत्स्थं जगदिदं वत्स मनुषे त्वं हि चोरवत्

Transliteration

pitāmahaśca jagataḥ pātā ca tava vatsaka | viṣṇuruvāca | matsthaṃ jagadidaṃ vatsa manuṣe tvaṃ hi coravat

Translation

“汝乃世间之祖父，亦为其护持者，爱子。”毗湿奴曰：“此一切宇宙安住于我，孩子；而汝却说得仿佛是汝之所有——如同盗者。”

Word by Word

• पितामहः: grandfather; Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• जगतः: of the world
• जगतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• पाता: protector
• पाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• वत्सक: O dear child
• वत्सक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) Perfect; Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular

• मत्स्थम्: abiding in me; situated in me
• मत्स्थम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mad (प्रातिपदिक) + stha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष/अधिकरण: मयि स्थम्); Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifies जगत्/इदम्

• जगत्: world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jagat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally; Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; qualifies जगत्

• वत्स: O child
• वत्स: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vatsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Vocative, Singular

• मनुषे: understand; consider
• मनुषे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √man (धातु) + uṣa (उष) / manuṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Verb form from √man ‘to think/consider’: Loṭ (लोट्) Imperative; Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); 2nd person, Singular (मनुष्व/मनुषे type); here: ‘understand/consider’

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative, Singular

• हि: indeed; for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (emphasis/causal nuance)

• चोरवत्: like a thief
• चोरवत्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: cora (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (वत्)
• Form: Avyaya; manner-adverb with -वत्

Speaker

Vishnu

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse critiques egoic appropriation—claiming cosmic authority as “mine.” In Shaiva Siddhanta, such doership is a form of pāśa (bondage); liberation arises when one recognizes the universe as upheld by the Supreme Lord (Pati) and relinquishes possessiveness.

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

By exposing the error of “I am the controller,” the verse supports Linga-worship as a discipline of surrender: the Linga signifies the Supreme Pati beyond personal pride. Devotion to Saguna Shiva trains the devotee to see all powers as resting in the Lord, not in the limited self.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with the bhāva of offering all ownership to Shiva; apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) as a reminder that pride and possession end in ash, cultivating humility and detachment.