Shloka 44

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

तेऽपि भ्रातृपथा यातास्तन्मुनेरुपदेशतः । नागमन्पितृसान्निध्यं विरक्ता भिक्षुमार्गिणः

Transliteration

te'pi bhrātṛpathā yātāstanmunerupadeśataḥ | nāgamanpitṛsānnidhyaṃ viraktā bhikṣumārgiṇaḥ

Translation

Following that sage’s instruction, they too set out upon the path their brothers had taken. Casting off worldly ties and embracing the mendicant’s way, they did not return again to their father’s presence.

Word by Word

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• भ्रातृ-पथा: by the path of brothers / along the brothers’ path
• भ्रातृ-पथा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक) + पथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भ्रातॄणां पथः’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन

• याताः: went
• याताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकालिक कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्रियापदवत् (finite sense: ‘went’)

• तत्: that (of that)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; ‘मुनेः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• उपदेशतः: from/according to the instruction
• उपदेशतः: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक) + तसिल्
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘उपदेशात्’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात (negation)

• अगमन्: they went
• अगमन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• पितृ-सान्निध्यम्: the presence of (their) fathers
• पितृ-सान्निध्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक) + सान्निध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘पितॄणां सान्निध्यम्’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• विरक्ताः: detached, dispassionate
• विरक्ताः: Kartṛviśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रञ्ज्/रञ्ज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘ते’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• भिक्षु-मार्गिणः: seekers of the mendicant path
• भिक्षु-मार्गिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भिक्षु (प्रातिपदिक) + मार्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/उपपद: ‘भिक्षोः मार्गः’ इति; ‘भिक्षुमार्गी’ = one who follows the mendicant path); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

FAQs

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

It highlights vairāgya (dispassion): when a seeker is guided by a realized teacher, they may choose the ascetic path and loosen even strong family bonds to pursue liberation under Pati (Shiva) as the supreme refuge.

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

Though the verse speaks through narrative action (renunciation), its Shaiva thrust is inner turning: the bhikṣu-life supports one-pointed devotion and contemplation of Shiva—often centered on Linga-worship as a stable saguna focus leading toward realization of Shiva’s transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is disciplined renunciation supported by guru-upadeśa—living simply, sustaining japa (especially Panchākṣarī: Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyāna on Shiva, with traditional Shaiva observances like bhasma and rudrākṣa where applicable.