Shloka 18

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

अथ प्रजार्थमृषयः प्रार्थिताश्च सुनीथया । सारस्वतास्तदा तस्य ममंथुर्दक्षिणं करम्

Transliteration

atha prajārthamṛṣayaḥ prārthitāśca sunīthayā | sārasvatāstadā tasya mamaṃthurdakṣiṇaṃ karam

Translation

Then, for the sake of progeny, the sages—urged by Sunīthā—began at that time to churn his right hand as a sacred rite, so that creation’s continuity might arise by divine ordinance.

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भ (then/now)

• prajā-artham: for (creating) progeny
• prajā-artham: Karma (कर्म/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (for the sake of progeny/subjects); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (purpose)

• ṛṣayaḥ: sages
• ṛṣayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• prārthitāḥ: having been requested
• prārthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + अर्थ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; √अर्थ् with प्र = to request/beseech

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• sunīthayā: by Sunīthā
• sunīthayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनीथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental), एकवचन

• sārasvatāḥ: the Sārasvata (sages)
• sārasvatāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेष-नाम/विशेषणवत् (Sārasvatas)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• tasya: of him (Vena)
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• mamanthuḥ: churned/rubbed (out)
• mamanthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन्थ् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; √मन्थ् = to churn/rub out

• dakṣiṇam: right
• dakṣiṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of karam)

• karam: hand
• karam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Sunitha
• Sages (Rishis)
• Sarasvata Rishis

FAQs

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

It presents creation and progeny as arising through ṛta (divine order): even extraordinary generation is shown as dependent on sacred intention, the power of tapas-filled sages, and the higher governance of Pati (the Lord) over manifestation.

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

While the verse is narrative rather than explicitly ritual, it aligns with Saguna Shiva theology: all productive power (śakti) and lawful manifestation proceed under the Lord’s sovereignty—symbolically recalled in Linga worship as the source and support of all beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is disciplined sankalpa with mantra-japa—especially Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—to align personal aims (like progeny, welfare, or dharma) with Shiva’s will; it also supports contemplative meditation on Shiva as Pati, the regulator of creative power.