Shloka 20

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

अवतारस्य विष्णोर्हि प्रजापालनहे तवे । धर्मसंरक्षणार्थाय दुष्टानां दंडहेतवे

Transliteration

avatārasya viṣṇorhi prajāpālanahe tave | dharmasaṃrakṣaṇārthāya duṣṭānāṃ daṃḍahetave

Translation

Indeed, the descent (avatāra) of Lord Viṣṇu is for the protection and governance of beings—so that dharma may be preserved and the wicked may be punished.

Word by Word

• avatārasya: of the incarnation
• avatārasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• viṣṇoḥ: of Viṣṇu
• viṣṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), emphatic/causal

• prajā-pālana-hetave: for the cause of protecting the subjects
• prajā-pālana-hetave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/purpose-recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + pālana (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• te: for you
• te: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/for you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), emphasis

• dharma-saṃrakṣaṇa-arthāya: for the purpose of protecting dharma
• dharma-saṃrakṣaṇa-arthāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃrakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

• duṣṭānām: of the wicked
• duṣṭānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: duṣṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• daṇḍa-hetave: for the cause of punishment
• daṇḍa-hetave: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक) + hetu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Dharma

FAQs

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

It frames avatāra as a divine instrument to restore dharma: beings are protected, adharma is checked, and the world is guided back toward right order—ultimately supporting the soul’s progress toward liberation under Pati (Śiva) as the supreme overseer.

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

While speaking of Viṣṇu’s descent, the Shiva Purana’s Shaiva lens emphasizes cosmic governance under Śiva: devotion to the Liṅga (Saguna Śiva) aligns the devotee with dharma, seeking protection, inner discipline, and the grace that removes pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady dharma-sādhana: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, dedicating one’s actions to protecting dharma and restraining harmful impulses.