Shloka 7

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

उत्तानपादोऽजनयत्पुत्राञ्छक्रसमान्प्रभुः । ध्रुवं च तनयं दिव्यमात्मानंदसुवर्चसम्

Transliteration

uttānapādo'janayatputrāñchakrasamānprabhuḥ | dhruvaṃ ca tanayaṃ divyamātmānaṃdasuvarcasam

Translation

Lord Uttānapāda begot sons equal to Indra in prowess; and he also begot Dhruva, his divine son, whose radiance shone with the splendour born of inner bliss.

Word by Word

• uttānapādaḥ: Uttānapāda
• uttānapādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: uttānapāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ajanayat: begot/produced
• ajanayat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jan (धातु) with prefix a- (causative sense here as ‘to beget’ is standard jan)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• putrān: sons
• putrān: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• śakra-samān: equal to Śakra (Indra)
• śakra-samān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + samāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) ‘śakreṇa samānān’ (equal to Indra); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies ‘putrān’

• prabhuḥ: the lord
• prabhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); epithet of Uttānapāda

• dhruvam: Dhruva
• dhruvam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhruva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• tanayam: son
• tanayam: Karma (कर्म/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); in apposition to ‘dhruvam’

• divyam: divine
• divyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: divya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘tanayam/dhruvam’

• ātmānanda-suvarcasam: full of inner bliss and radiant
• ātmānanda-suvarcasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ātmānanda (प्रातिपदिक) + suvarcasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) used adjectivally: ‘ātmānandaḥ ca suvarcasaḥ ca’ (self-bliss and radiant); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies ‘dhruvam/tanayam’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Uttanapada
• Indra (Shakra)
• Dhruva

FAQs

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

It highlights that true greatness is not merely worldly power (Indra-like prowess) but the divine radiance born of inner bliss—pointing to the Shaiva ideal that devotion and grace lead the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) and luminous steadiness.

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

By praising Dhruva’s divine splendor, the text sets the stage for the Purāṇic theme that steadfast devotion to Saguna Shiva (often through Linga-upāsanā) matures into inner realization, where grace manifests as clarity, stability, and spiritual tejas.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is dhruva-niṣṭhā (unwavering practice): daily Shiva-smaraṇa with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by simple Linga worship and a steady contemplative focus that cultivates inner ānanda and purity.