Shloka 32

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

प्राचेतसा मुखेभ्यस्ते प्रासृजन्नग्निमारुतौ । वृक्षानुन्मूल्य वायुस्तानदहद्धव्यवाहनः

Transliteration

prācetasā mukhebhyaste prāsṛjannagnimārutau | vṛkṣānunmūlya vāyustānadahaddhavyavāhanaḥ

Translation

Then, from the mouths of those Prācetasas, fire and wind were released. The wind uprooted the trees, and Agni—the carrier of oblations—burned them down.

Word by Word

• प्राचेतसा: by (the sage) Prācetasa
• प्राचेतसा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचेतस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• मुखेभ्यः: from (their) mouths
• मुखेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), बहुवचन

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रासृजन्: sent forth/emitted
• प्रासृजन्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र+सृज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• अग्नि-मारुतौ: fire and wind
• अग्नि-मारुतौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• वृक्षान्: trees
• वृक्षान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन

• उन्मूल्य: having uprooted
• उन्मूल्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+मूल् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having uprooted’

• वायुः: the wind
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तान्: them (those trees)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• अदहत्: burned
• अदहत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• हव्य-वाहनः: the carrier of oblations (Agni)
• हव्य-वाहनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘हव्यस्य वाहनः’ (Agni)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: localized pralaya-like destruction (forest conflagration)

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Vayu
• Pracetasas

FAQs

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

It illustrates how elemental powers (agni and vāyu) can manifest through empowered beings, yet their outward force also warns that ungoverned anger binds the soul (paśu) in pāśa; only alignment with Pati (Śiva) turns power into liberation.

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

In Saguna worship, Śiva is honored as the Lord of the elements; the Linga symbolizes the stable, transcendent center (Pati) by which fire and wind—both potent and destructive—are harmonized and made auspicious.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined prāṇāyāma (vāyu-control) joined with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” (agni of awareness), so that inner heat and breath are purified rather than expressed as destructive impulse.