Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1

मनु-शतरूपा-प्रसूतिः तथा दक्षकन्याविवाहाः

Manu–Śatarūpā, Prasūti, and the Marriages of Dakṣa’s Daughters

Devanagari script

स्वायंभुवसुतायां तु प्रसूत्यां लोकमातरः

Transliteration

svāyaṃbhuvasutāyāṃ tu prasūtyāṃ lokamātaraḥ

Translation

Aus Prasūti, der Tochter des Svāyambhuva Manu, wurden die Mütter der Welten geboren.

Word by Word

• स्वायंभुवसुतायाम्: in/with the daughter of Svāyaṃbhuva
• स्वायंभुवसुतायाम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायंभुव + सुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (svāyaṃbhuvasya sutā = daughter of Svāyaṃbhuva)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha-dyotaka (सम्बन्ध-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयबोधक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• प्रसूत्याम्: in Prasūti
• प्रसूत्याम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रसूति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• लोकमातरः: mothers of the worlds
• लोकमातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (lokānāṃ mātaraḥ = mothers of the worlds)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Genealogical cosmogony situates ‘world-mothers’ as channels of manifested order; for Śaiva Siddhānta, it underscores that embodied lineages (paśu in saṃsāra) arise within māyā’s domain under Śiva’s overarching governance.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: population of the cosmos through progenitors (sṛṣṭi continuation)

Characters & Entities

• Svayambhuva Manu
• Prasuti

FAQs

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

It frames creation as an ordered lineage within prakṛti, while Shaiva Siddhanta ultimately points beyond such genealogy to Pati (Shiva) as the transcendent Lord who grants liberation from worldly becoming.

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

By situating cosmic origins within the Purana’s narrative, it prepares the reader to recognize that all manifested orders depend on the Supreme; Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) is revered as the sustaining and grace-bestowing Lord over all such cosmic lines.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to contemplate Shiva as Pati beyond all progeny and creation, and to steady the mind with japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating the fruits of worldly duties to Him.