Shloka 1

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

शौनक उवाच । मन्वंतराणि सर्वाणि विस्तरेणानुकीर्तय । यावंतो मनवश्चैव श्रोतुमिच्छामि तानहम्

Transliteration

śaunaka uvāca | manvaṃtarāṇi sarvāṇi vistareṇānukīrtaya | yāvaṃto manavaścaiva śrotumicchāmi tānaham

Translation

Śaunaka said: “Please recount in detail all the Manvantaras. I wish to hear of all the Manus—how many there are, and who they are.”

Word by Word

• शौनकः: Śaunaka
• शौनकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (Masculine, Nominative, Singular; proper name)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (परोक्ष-भूत), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन (Perfect, 3rd person singular, active)

• मन्वंतराणि: Manvantaras (epochs of Manus)
• मन्वंतराणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्वन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Plural)

• सर्वाणि: all
• सर्वाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (Neuter, Accusative, Plural; adjectival)

• विस्तरेण: in detail
• विस्तरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विस्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भावे (Masculine, Instrumental, Singular; ‘in detail’)

• अनुकीर्तय: recount/describe
• अनुकीर्तय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (आज्ञार्थ), परस्मैपद; मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन (Imperative, 2nd person singular, active)

• यावन्तः: as many as
• यावन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण/प्रश्न-परिमाण (Masculine, Nominative, Plural; ‘as many as’)

• मनवः: Manus
• मनवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Sambandha/Particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/निश्चय (emphatic particle)

• श्रोतुम्: to hear
• श्रोतुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive); ‘to hear’

• इच्छामि: I wish/desire
• इच्छामि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), परस्मैपद; उत्तम-पुरुष, एकवचन (Present, 1st person singular, active)

• तान्: those (them)
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वलिङ्ग (Nominative, Singular; pronoun)

Speaker

Śaunaka (addressing Sūta Gosvāmin in the Naimiṣāraṇya dialogue setting typical of Purāṇic narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: manvantara-cakra (cyclic aeons under successive Manus)

Characters & Entities

• Śaunaka
• Manu
• Manvantara

FAQs

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

It frames sacred history as cyclic time (Manvantaras), encouraging a dharmic, Shaiva view that worldly ages rise and fall while liberation depends on devotion to Pati (Śiva) beyond time.

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

By seeking the order of Manvantaras, the listener is prepared to understand how Śiva’s grace and dharma-guidance appear across ages; Saguna worship (like Linga-upāsanā) is presented as a timeless means within every Manvantara.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice implied is śravaṇa (devotional listening) of Purāṇic narration; traditionally this is supported by daily Shiva-smaraṇa and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (oṃ namaḥ śivāya).