Shloka 39

Aditi’s Progeny and the Twelve Ādityas

Manvantara Genealogy

Devanagari script

षण्मुखाद्या महासत्त्वास्ताम्रायाः परिकीर्तिताः । काकी श्येनी च भासी च सुग्रीवी च शुकी तथा

Transliteration

ṣaṇmukhādyā mahāsattvāstāmrāyāḥ parikīrtitāḥ | kākī śyenī ca bhāsī ca sugrīvī ca śukī tathā

Translation

The great beings beginning with Ṣaṇmukha are declared to be born of Tāmrā—namely Kākī, Śyenī, Bhāsī, Sugrīvī, and also Śukī.

Word by Word

• षण्मुखाद्याः: those beginning with Ṣaṇmukha
• षण्मुखाद्याः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षण्मुख + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; ‘ādi’ = ‘beginning with’ (अव्ययीभाव-प्राय अर्थे, परन्तु रूपतः तत्पुरुष-समास)

• महासत्त्वाः: great beings
• महासत्त्वाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महच्च तत् सत्त्वम्)

• ताम्रायाः: of Tām्रā
• ताम्रायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताम्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• परिकीर्तिताः: are recounted/mentioned
• परिकीर्तिताः: विधेय (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + √कीर्त् (कीर्त्) (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), प्रथमा बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘have been described/mentioned’

• काकी: Kākī
• काकी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject - list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• श्येनी: Śyenī
• श्येनी: कर्ता (list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्येनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भासी: Bhāsī
• भासी: कर्ता (list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भासी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सुग्रीवी: Sugrīvī
• सुग्रीवी: कर्ता (list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुग्रीवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुकी: Śukī
• शुकी: कर्ता (list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: समुच्चय/प्रकार (addition/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/particle of addition)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kartikeya
• Shanmukha
• Tāmra
• Kākī
• Śyenī
• Bhāsī
• Sugrīvī
• Śukī

FAQs

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

It situates beings within a sacred cosmology: many powers and lineages arise within Shiva’s ordered creation, while liberation ultimately comes from turning from mere enumeration of beings (pāśa) toward devotion to Shiva as Pati, the Lord of all.

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

By naming Ṣaṇmukha and other beings, the text highlights Saguna manifestations within creation; Linga-worship points beyond these forms to Shiva’s supreme reality, while still honoring His functional powers expressed through divine beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa (recollection of divine names) alongside Shiva-bhakti—such as japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—to move from worldly classifications toward inner steadiness and grace.