Shloka 28

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

प्रजासर्गोद्यतांस्तान् वै ज्ञात्वा गत्वेति नारद । पूर्ववच्चागदो वाक्यं संस्मरन्नैश्वरीं गतिम्

Transliteration

prajāsargodyatāṃstān vai jñātvā gatveti nārada | pūrvavaccāgado vākyaṃ saṃsmarannaiśvarīṃ gatim

Translation

Knowing that they were intent on creating progeny, he said, “Go, O Nārada.” Then, remembering the earlier instruction and abiding in the Lord’s divine course, he departed as before.

Word by Word

• प्रजा-सर्ग-उद्यतान्: those intent on creating progeny
• प्रजा-सर्ग-उद्यतान्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + सर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यत (कृदन्त; उद्+यम्/यत्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; ‘प्रजासर्गे उद्यताः’ (intent on creation of beings) — विशेषण

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वै: indeed
• वै: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), खलु/एव-अर्थे (emphatic)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकाल (having known)

• गत्वा: having gone
• गत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), पूर्वकाल (having gone)

• इति: thus
• इति: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-निपात (quotative particle)

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीतिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: as before)

• च: and
• च: अव्यय-सम्बन्ध (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अगदः: Agada (a person)
• अगदः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अगद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्ता

• वाक्यम्: statement/words
• वाक्यम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• संस्मरन्: remembering
• संस्मरन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्तरि

• ऐश्वरीम्: divine/lordly
• ऐश्वरीम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; ‘गतिम्’ इति विशेषण

• गतिम्: course/way/state
• गतिम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating/instructing Nārada within the Sati-khaṇḍa narrative frame as related by Sūta)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that even cosmic activity like creation should proceed in alignment with īśvara-ājñā (the Lord’s ordinance); remembrance of the divine instruction steadies the mind and keeps action oriented toward dharma and liberation.

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

The phrase “aiśvarī gati” implies moving under the Lord’s sovereignty; in Saguna worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā), the devotee trains to act as an instrument of Śiva’s will—remembering His command and returning to Him through disciplined devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is smaraṇa (remembrance): begin duties after mentally recalling Śiva—e.g., silently repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offering the action to the Lord, maintaining inner alignment with His guidance.