Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

सनकः सनातनश्चैव प्रभुर्यश्च सनन्दनः । विभुः सनत्कुमारश्च निर्मलो निरहंकृतिः

Transliteration

sanakaḥ sanātanaścaiva prabhuryaśca sanandanaḥ | vibhuḥ sanatkumāraśca nirmalo nirahaṃkṛtiḥ

Translation

Sanaka, Sanātana, Prabhu, and Sanandana; Vibhu and Sanatkumāra—these immaculate sages, free from egoism, are counted among the foremost devotees and knowers of Śiva.

Word by Word

• सनकः: Sanaka
• सनकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• सनातनः: Sanātana
• सनातनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• प्रभुः: Prabhu
• प्रभुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम/उपाधि

• यः: who
• यः: सम्बन्ध (Relative/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• सनन्दनः: Sanandana
• सनन्दनः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनन्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• विभुः: Vibhu
• विभुः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम/उपाधि

• सनत्कुमारः: Sanatkumāra
• सनत्कुमारः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सनत्-कुमार (प्रातिपदिक; सनत् + कुमार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम; कर्मधारय-समास (सनत् विशेषण + कुमार)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• निर्मलः: pure
• निर्मलः: कर्ता (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/उपाधि

• निरहंकृतिः: free from egoism
• निरहंकृतिः: कर्ता (Subject complement/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्-अहंकृति (प्रातिपदिक; निर् + अहंकृति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण/उपाधि; नञ्/उपसर्ग-पूर्वक समासार्थ: 'अहंकार-रहितः'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Sanaka
• Sanatana
• Sanandana
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It highlights the ideal Shaiva temperament: purity (nirmala) and the absence of ego (nirahaṃkṛti). Such inner cleanliness makes one fit for Śiva-jñāna and steady devotion, leading toward liberation.

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

By naming the Kumāras—archetypal renunciant sages—it implies that true Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship is not mere outer ritual but is grounded in inner ego-transcendence and purity, which makes worship fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice ego-reduction alongside worship: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a pure mind, and simple Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as supports for remembrance and humility.