Shloka 18

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

द्वितीयमेतत्कथितं मुने मन्वन्तरं मया । तृतीयं तव वक्ष्यामि तन्निबोध यथातथम्

Transliteration

dvitīyametatkathitaṃ mune manvantaraṃ mayā | tṛtīyaṃ tava vakṣyāmi tannibodha yathātatham

Translation

O sage, I have thus narrated to you the second Manvantara. Now I shall tell you the third—listen to it attentively, just as it truly is.

Word by Word

• द्वितीयम्: the second
• द्वितीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; with कथितम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); क्रमवाचक (ordinal)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म; apposition to द्वितीयम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), सर्वनाम (Pronoun)

• कथितम्: has been told
• कथितम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कथित (कृदन्त; √कथ् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); predicate

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• मन्वन्तरम्: Manvantara (period of a Manu)
• मन्वन्तरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; with कथितम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (manor antaraṃ = period of Manu)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन (Singular), उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (1st person pronoun)

• तृतीयम्: the third
• तृतीयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object; with वक्ष्यामि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• तव: to you/for you
• तव: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Recipient; genitive of relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), मध्यमपुरुष-सर्वनाम (2nd person pronoun)

• वक्ष्यामि: I will tell
• वक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object; with निबोध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• निबोध: understand/know
• निबोध: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग: नि-

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), प्रकार/उपमा-अर्थे (manner/comparison)

• तथम्: so/accordingly
• तथम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Indeclinable), प्रकारार्थे (manner); छान्दस/पदपूरण-रूप (tatham for tathā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana in discourse form)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: transition from 2nd to 3rd Manvantara narration

FAQs

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

It emphasizes śravaṇa (attentive listening) to sacred narration in its true order, preparing the mind for right understanding of dharma and the cosmic rhythm governed ultimately by Pati (Śiva).

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

Though the verse is cosmological and transitional, it supports Saguna-upāsanā indirectly: knowing the ordered unfolding of creation and epochs strengthens reverence for Śiva as the supreme governor beyond time, often worshipped as the Liṅga—the timeless axis of the cosmos.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The immediate practice is disciplined śravaṇa and manana (listening and reflection). A Shaiva takeaway is to begin such study with Panchākṣarī-japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to steady attention and receive the teaching 'as it is' (yathātatham).