Shloka 22

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

तस्माच्चैव समुत्पन्नौ निपुणौ सूतमागधौ । तेनेयं गौर्मुनिश्रेष्ठ दुग्धा सर्वहिताय वै

Transliteration

tasmāccaiva samutpannau nipuṇau sūtamāgadhau | teneyaṃ gaurmuniśreṣṭha dugdhā sarvahitāya vai

Translation

From that sacred source there indeed arose two skilled ones—the Sūta and the Māgadha. Therefore, O best of sages, this Cow has been milked, truly, for the welfare of all.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: from him/therefore
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात

• समुत्पन्नौ: born/arisen (two)
• समुत्पन्नौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + उत् + पद्/पद् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; धातु: पद्/पद् (उत्पत्तौ)

• निपुणौ: skilled (two)
• निपुणौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निपुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषणम्

• सूत-मागधौ: the Sūta and the Māgadha
• सूत-मागधौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक) + मागध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास (सूतश्च मागधश्च)

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• इयम्: this
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गौः: cow
• गौः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनि-श्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनीनां श्रेष्ठः)

• दुग्धा: was milked
• दुग्धा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दुह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; धातु: दुह् (दोहने); कर्मणि प्रयोगः (was milked)

• सर्व-हिताय: for the welfare of all
• सर्व-हिताय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + हित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां हितम्)

• वै: indeed/verily
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/assurance particle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The ‘milking of the cow’ is a Purāṇic trope for extracting dharma/knowledge for universal welfare; here it legitimizes bardic transmission (Sūta/Māgadha) as a vehicle of sacred teaching rather than a site-specific liṅga legend.

Significance: Affirms śravaṇa (hearing) and kathā (sacred narration) as a means of merit and moral uplift for all varṇas and beings.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Suta
• Magadha

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva-Purana wisdom as a universal nourishment—like milk drawn from a sacred cow—meant to uplift all beings through śravaṇa (devotional listening) and right understanding.

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

By emphasizing the authority of traditional narrators (Sūta/Māgadha), it supports the Purana’s role in transmitting Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-centered devotion—so devotees can approach Pati (Shiva) through accessible teachings and stories.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is regular śravaṇa and pāṭha (hearing/recitation) of the Shiva Purana with devotion, as a purifying discipline that supports mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady bhakti.