Shloka 8

अविद्या-पञ्चक, नवसर्ग-क्रमः, प्रजापति-प्रसवः

Vibhaga 1, Adhyaya 5

Devanagari script

सप्तमो मानुषो विप्रा अष्टमो ऽनुग्रहः स्मृतः नवमश्चैव कौमारः प्राकृता वैकृतास्त्विमे

Transliteration

saptamo mānuṣo viprā aṣṭamo 'nugrahaḥ smṛtaḥ navamaścaiva kaumāraḥ prākṛtā vaikṛtāstvime

Translation

O Brahmins, the seventh is the human creation; the eighth is remembered as the creation born of grace (anugraha); and the ninth indeed is the Kaumāra creation. These are the natural (prākṛta) and the modified/derivative (vaikṛta) modes of manifestation.

Word by Word

• सप्तमः: the seventh

• मानुषः: human (pertaining to mankind)

• विप्राः: O Brahmins

• अष्टमः: the eighth

• अनुग्रहः: grace, divine favor

• स्मृतः: is remembered/declared

• नवमः: the ninth

• च एव: and indeed

• कौमारः: Kaumāra (of the Kumāras, youthful/ascetic)

• प्राकृताः: natural, primordial

• वैकृताः: modified, derivative

• तु: and/but

• इमे: these

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Kumaras

FAQs

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

By naming “anugraha” (grace) as a distinct mode of manifestation, the verse points to Shiva as Pati whose favor enables the pashu (soul) to transcend pasha (bondage); Linga-worship is framed as a grace-oriented path, not merely a material rite.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as the regulator of both prākṛta (natural) and vaikṛta (derivative) unfoldings, and especially as the source of anugraha—His liberating function that elevates beings beyond purely mechanical cosmogenesis.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse most directly highlights anugraha as the key principle behind attainment; in practice this aligns with Pashupata-oriented discipline—devotional Linga-upāsanā and yogic restraint undertaken to become fit for Shiva’s grace.