Shloka 52

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

एतं मे संशयं सूत प्रत्याख्यातुं त्वमर्हसि । चित्रमेतत्स सोमस्य कथं श्वशुरतां गतः

Transliteration

etaṃ me saṃśayaṃ sūta pratyākhyātuṃ tvamarhasi | citrametatsa somasya kathaṃ śvaśuratāṃ gataḥ

Translation

O Sūta, you are worthy to resolve this doubt of mine. This is indeed astonishing—how did Soma come to attain the status of a father-in-law?

Word by Word

• एतम्: this
• एतम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'this' (referring to doubt)

• मे: my
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन — enclitic; 'my'

• संशयम्: doubt
• संशयम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'doubt'

• सूत: O Sūta
• सूत: सम्बोधन (address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'O Sūta'

• प्रत्याख्यातुम्: to answer/resolve
• प्रत्याख्यातुम्: प्रयोजन (purpose/complement of 'अर्हसि')
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-आ-√ख्या (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), 'to explain/answer/resolve (by refuting)'

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'you'

• अर्हसि: ought/are able
• अर्हसि: क्रिया (verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन — 'are fit/ought'

• चित्रम्: strange
• चित्रम्: विशेषण (predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — विशेषण used predicatively: 'wonderful/strange'

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'this (matter)'

• स: (emphatic particle)
• स: सम्बन्ध (discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — often expletive/emphatic; here in sandhi with 'एतत्'

• सोमस्य: of Soma
• सोमस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'of Soma'

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: प्रश्न (interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्न-अव्यय (interrogative adverb) — 'how?'

• श्वशुरताम्: the status of father-in-law
• श्वशुरताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; state attained)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वशुर-ता (प्रातिपदिक; components: श्वशुर + ता)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — 'the state of being a father-in-law'

• गतः: attained/became
• गतः: क्रियासमास (predicative participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — 'having gone/attained' (predicate of Soma)

Speaker

A sage (Ṛṣi) addressing Suta Goswami at Naimisharanya

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Suta Goswami
• Soma

FAQs

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

The verse models the Shaiva way of inquiry: doubts are to be brought to a competent narrator (Sūta) so that understanding becomes aligned with dharma and devotion, rather than speculation.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it reflects the Purāṇic method by which devotion to Saguna Shiva is strengthened: clarifying sacred stories removes confusion and supports steady bhakti toward Śiva as Pati (Lord) who orders cosmic and social dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and satsanga—hearing Shiva Purana kathā from a qualified speaker—supported by remembrance of Shiva (japa of Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as one seeks clarity.