Chapter 2 · Dvitīyo’dhyāyaḥ (Second Chapter)
Verse 4
ततः पराजिता देवाः पद्मयोनिं प्रजापतिम्। पुरस्कृत्य गतास्तत्र यत्रेशगरुडध्वजौ ॥ ४ ॥
tataḥ parājitā dēvāḥ padmayōniṁ prajāpatim | puraskṛtya gatāstatra yatrēśagaruḍadhvajau || 4 ||
Translation
'Then, the defeated gods, taking the lotus-born Prajāpati (Brahmā) with them, went to that place where (reside) the ones whose flags are (marked by) Īśa (the bull) and Garuḍa (Vishnu).'
Word by word
- tataḥ
- then
- parājitāḥ
- defeated
- dēvāḥ
- the gods
- padmayonim
- the lotus-born (Brahmā)
- prajāpatim
- the lord of creatures
- puraskṛtya
- placing at the front, taking along
- gatāḥ
- went
- tatra
- there
- yatra
- where
- īśa
- Shiva (whose flag is...)
- garuḍa
- Garuḍa (the eagle)
- dhvajau
- those whose flags are (Vishnu and Shiva)
Meaning
In their desperation, the defeated Devas seek help from the highest authorities. They approach Brahmā (the creator) and together go to the abode of the Trimurti—specifically to Vishnu (whose flag bears Garuḍa) and Shiva (whose flag bears the bull Nandi). This signifies that the problem is so grave that it requires the intervention of the supreme Trinity.