Shloka 23

Diter Vratabhaṅga and Indra’s Intervention

Diti–Kaśyapa Narrative

Devanagari script

वैवस्वतं पितॄणां च यमं राज्येऽभ्यषेचयत् । मातॄणां च व्रतानां च मन्त्राणां च तथा गवाम्

Transliteration

vaivasvataṃ pitṝṇāṃ ca yamaṃ rājye'bhyaṣecayat | mātṝṇāṃ ca vratānāṃ ca mantrāṇāṃ ca tathā gavām

Translation

He anointed Vaivasvata Yama to sovereignty over the Pitṛs, the ancestral spirits; and likewise He established lordship and guardianship over the Mothers, over vows and observances, over mantras, and over cattle as well.

Word by Word

• वैवस्वतम्: Vaivasvata (Manu)
• वैवस्वतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पितॄणाम्: of the fathers/ancestors
• पितॄणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• यमम्: Yama
• यमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• राज्ये: in the kingdom/sovereignty (office)
• राज्ये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राज्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभ्यषेचयत्: installed/anointed
• अभ्यषेचयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + सिच् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; (अर्थः) अभिषेकं कृतवान्

• मातॄणाम्: of the mothers
• मातॄणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• व्रतानाम्: of vows/observances
• व्रतानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• मन्त्राणाम्: of mantras
• मन्त्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• तथा: likewise, also
• तथा: Nipata (निपात/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थे (thus/also)

• गवाम्: of cows
• गवाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी/Relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (गो), षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Characters & Entities

• Yama
• Pitrs
• Mothers (Matrkas)

FAQs

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

The verse presents dharmic order as a divinely instituted hierarchy: specific powers (ancestors, vows, mantras, and protective forces) are placed under appointed guardians, showing that spiritual life (vrata and mantra) functions within Shiva’s sovereign cosmic law (niyati) leading beings toward purification and liberation.

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

By depicting delegated cosmic governance, the text implies that all ritual supports—mantra and vrata included—derive efficacy from the Supreme Lord. In Saguna Shiva worship (including Linga-puja), mantras and observances become effective because they are upheld by Shiva’s ordained order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It underscores disciplined vrata (vow-based observance) and mantra-japa as legitimate Shaiva means: undertake a vow with purity and perform consistent japa (especially Shiva mantras like the Panchakshara) while maintaining reverence for dharmic supports such as cow-protection and ancestral rites.