Shloka 12

ऋषभचरित्रवर्णनम् (Ṛṣabha-caritra-varṇanam) — “Account of Ṛṣabha’s Sacred Narrative”

Devanagari script

तत्रापि मे भविष्यन्ति शिष्या वेदविदो द्विजाः । दुन्दुभिः शतरूपश्च हृषीकः केतुमांस्तथा

Transliteration

tatrāpi me bhaviṣyanti śiṣyā vedavido dvijāḥ | dundubhiḥ śatarūpaśca hṛṣīkaḥ ketumāṃstathā

Translation

There too, I shall have disciples—twice-born sages well-versed in the Vedas: Dundubhi, Śatarūpa, Hṛṣīka, and likewise Ketumān.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there/then
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Context)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (adverb ‘there/then’)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle ‘also/even’)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive) एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शिष्याः: disciples
• शिष्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• वेद-विदः: knowers of the Veda
• वेद-विदः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘वेदं वेत्ति’ (knower of the Veda)

• द्विजाः: twice-born (Brahmins)
• द्विजाः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• दुन्दुभिः: Dundubhi (name)
• दुन्दुभिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (व्यक्तिनाम)

• शतरूपः: Śatarūpa (name)
• शतरूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘शतानि रूपाणि यस्य’ (one who has a hundred forms) (नाम)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction ‘and’)

• हृषीकः: Hṛṣīka (name)
• हृषीकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृषीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम

• केतुमान्: Ketumān (name)
• केतुमान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; name in list)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतुमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘मतुप्’-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor) (नाम)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (adverb/particle ‘thus/also’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: yuga-wise establishment of Veda-knowing dvija disciples as vehicles of śiva-śāstra

Characters & Entities

• Dundubhi
• Śatarūpa
• Hṛṣīka
• Ketumān

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes that true spiritual transmission in Shaiva dharma occurs through qualified discipleship—Veda-grounded, disciplined seekers who become fit vessels for Śiva’s grace and teachings.

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

By naming disciples who are Veda-knowers, the text frames Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) as a tradition upheld by orthodox, mantra- and ritual-competent practitioners, preserving correct method and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While no single rite is explicitly stated in this line, the implication is disciplined Vedic-Śaiva practice under a teacher—regular mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī), purity of conduct, and steady devotion as the foundation for Śiva’s instruction.