Shloka 49

Aditi’s Progeny and the Twelve Ādityas

Manvantara Genealogy

Devanagari script

अनायुषायाः पुत्राश्च पंचाशच्च महाबलाः । अभवन्बलवृक्षौ च विक्षरोऽथ बृहंस्तथा

Transliteration

anāyuṣāyāḥ putrāśca paṃcāśacca mahābalāḥ | abhavanbalavṛkṣau ca vikṣaro'tha bṛhaṃstathā

Translation

From Anāyuṣā were born fifty sons, all exceedingly mighty. Among them were the renowned ones named Balavṛkṣa, Vikṣara, and also Bṛhaṃs.

Word by Word

• anāyuṣāyāḥ: of Anāyuṣā
• anāyuṣāyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anāyuṣā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• putrāḥ: sons
• putrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• paṃcāśat: fifty
• paṃcāśat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: paṃcāśat (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Numeral adjective (संख्यावाचक), Indeclinable-like in usage; here qualifying putrāḥ = ‘fifty’

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• mahābalāḥ: very strong / mighty
• mahābalāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः (mahā ca te balāḥ) qualifying putrāḥ

• abhavan: were / became
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• balavṛkṣau: Balavṛkṣa (two persons named Balavṛkṣa?)
• balavṛkṣau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन); कर्मधारयः (balavān vṛkṣaḥ) used as a proper name (Balavṛkṣa)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction/particle (समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय)

• vikṣaraḥ: Vikṣara
• vikṣaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); proper name

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/adverb (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• bṛhan: Bṛhan
• bṛhan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); stem bṛhat with nominative sg form bṛhan; proper name

• tathā: also / likewise
• tathā: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Anāyuṣā
• Balavṛkṣa
• Vikṣara
• Bṛhaṃs

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a genealogical marker: it shows the vast proliferation of beings within saṃsāra, where even “mighty” descendants remain part of the created order. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, such enumerations contrast the finite pashu (bound souls/beings) with Pati (Shiva), the transcendent Lord who alone grants liberation.

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

By listing powerful progeny, the text implicitly teaches that worldly strength and lineage are not the ultimate refuge. Linga-worship directs the mind to Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord and to the Linga as the sign of the Supreme beyond names and forms—helping devotees move from attachment to created identities toward devotion to Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrāksha, cultivating remembrance of Shiva as the source and end of all lineages, and seeking inner detachment from mere power or progeny.