Shloka 21

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

पृथुर्वैन्यस्तदा पृध्वीमरक्षत्क्षत्रपूर्वजः । राजसूयाभिषिक्तानामाद्यस्स वसुधापतिः

Transliteration

pṛthurvainyastadā pṛdhvīmarakṣatkṣatrapūrvajaḥ | rājasūyābhiṣiktānāmādyassa vasudhāpatiḥ

Translation

Then Pṛthu, the son of Vena—born in the royal warrior line—protected the Earth. Among those consecrated by the Rājasūya sacrifice, he was the first, the primordial lord of the world, upholding righteous kingship in service of dharma.

Word by Word

• पृथुः: Pṛthu
• पृथुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वैन्यः: son of Vena (Vainya)
• वैन्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पितृनाम्ना जात/गोत्रज (patronymic)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala-adhikarana (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक

• पृथ्वीम्: the earth
• पृथ्वीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अरक्षत्: protected
• अरक्षत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: रक्ष् (रक्षणे)

• क्षत्र-पूर्वजः: the progenitor of the Kṣatriyas
• क्षत्र-पूर्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पूर्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्षत्रस्य पूर्वजः)

• राजसूय-अभिषिक्तानाम्: of those consecrated by the Rājasūya
• राजसूय-अभिषिक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिषिक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (राजसूयेन अभिषिक्ताः)

• आद्यः: the first
• आद्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वसुधा-पतिः: lord of the earth
• वसुधा-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वसुधायाः पतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse frames Pṛthu as the archetypal dharmic king who stabilizes the earth; in Śaiva reading, such righteous sovereignty is a worldly reflection of Śiva’s sustaining governance (īśvaratva) rather than a specific Jyotirliṅga episode.

Significance: Models rājadharma as service to cosmic order; inspires devotees to see protection of beings as Śiva-sevā.

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu
• Vena
• Earth (Pṛthvī)

FAQs

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

It presents righteous protection of the Earth as dharma: the king’s power is legitimate only when it serves cosmic order, aligning worldly governance with the higher Shaiva ethic of upholding harmony under Pati (the Supreme Lord).

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

Though the verse is about Pṛthu’s rule, the Shiva Purana frames dharma as ultimately rooted in the Lord’s sovereignty; honoring Saguna Shiva (as the righteous ruler of the cosmos) inspires kings and householders to protect, nourish, and govern without ego.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is dharma-centered sādhanā: daily remembrance of Shiva with the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and offering actions as service, so authority and effort become disciplined and non-harmful.