Shloka 28

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

सर्वे प्राचेतसा नाम्ना धनुर्वेदस्य पारगाः । अपृथग्धर्माचरणास्तेऽतप्यंत महत्तपः

Transliteration

sarve prācetasā nāmnā dhanurvedasya pāragāḥ | apṛthagdharmācaraṇāste'tapyaṃta mahattapaḥ

Translation

All of them, known by the name Prācetasa, were masters of Dhanurveda, the sacred science of archery. United and undivided in righteous dharma-conduct, they performed mighty austerities—tapas of great intensity.

Word by Word

• सर्वे: all (of them)
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• प्राचेतसाः: Prācetasa-s
• प्राचेतसाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचेतस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; patronymic/collective name

• नाम्ना: by name
• नाम्ना: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; ‘by name’

• धनुर्वेदस्य: of Dhanurveda (archery-science)
• धनुर्वेदस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘science of archery’

• पारगाः: experts, masters
• पारगाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘those who have gone to the far shore’ = experts

• अपृथग्धर्माचरणाः: whose conduct was inseparable from dharma
• अपृथग्धर्माचरणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपृथक् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आचरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; नञ्/अ-पूर्वक + तत्पुरुष-प्रायः: ‘not separate from dharma in conduct’

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), बहुवचन

• अतप्यन्त: practised austerity
• अतप्यन्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, आत्मनेपद; ‘performed austerity’

• महत्: great
• महत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of ‘तपः’

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Prācetas

FAQs

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

It highlights that true spiritual power arises from united, dharmic living and sustained tapas—preparing the seeker for Shiva’s grace, which ultimately loosens bondage (pāśa) and leads toward liberation (moksha).

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

The verse sets the inner qualification for Saguna Shiva worship: disciplined conduct and austerity purify the mind so that devotion to Shiva—often expressed through Linga-upāsanā—becomes steady and fruitful.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is tapas with dharma: a regulated life, self-restraint, and sustained meditation on Shiva (often supported in Shaiva practice by japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya, along with simple, sattvic observances).