Shloka 31

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

अर्जुनः पंक्तिविंध्यो वा दयायास्त नया मुने । महता तपसा युक्ता मेरुपृष्ठे वसंति हि

Transliteration

arjunaḥ paṃktiviṃdhyo vā dayāyāsta nayā mune | mahatā tapasā yuktā merupṛṣṭhe vasaṃti hi

Translation

O sage, Arjuna and Paṅktivindhya—sons of Dayā—endowed with great austerities, indeed dwell upon the ridge of Mount Meru.

Word by Word

• अर्जुनः: Arjuna
• अर्जुनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्जुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पंक्तिविंध्यः: Paṅktivindhya
• पंक्तिविंध्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पंक्ति-विंध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—पंक्तिरिव विंध्यः / पंक्तिविंध्य-नामकः (नामसमास)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• दयायाः: of Dayā
• दयायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• ताः: they
• ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; निर्देशार्थक (they/those)

• नयाः: sons/descendants
• नयाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘पुत्र/वंशज’ अर्थे (sons/descendants)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन

• महता: by great
• महता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd case), एकवचन; विशेषण

• तपसा: austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• युक्ताः: endowed/engaged
• युक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → युक्त (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle)

• मेरुपृष्ठे: on the back/slope of Meru
• मेरुपृष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेरु-पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन; समासः—मेरोः पृष्ठे (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• वसन्ति: they dwell
• वसन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात-अव्यय; हेतौ/निश्चयार्थे (indeed/for)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Meru/Himālaya tapas motif resonates with Kedāra-kṣetra traditions where ascetics perform severe tapas and Śiva grants darśana; this verse itself is not a direct Jyotirliṅga māhātmya but thematically aligns with Himalayan tapas-kṣetras.

Significance: Tapas and dhyāna in Himalayan sacred geography; pilgrimage symbolizes ascent from paśu-bondage toward Śiva’s anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: manvantara setting localized to Meru (axis-mountain) as abode of tapasvins

Characters & Entities

• Dayā
• Arjuna
• Paṅktivindhya
• Mount Meru

FAQs

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

It highlights tapas (austerity) as a purifying discipline: by restraining the senses and steadying the mind, aspirants become fit for Shiva-knowledge (Pati-jñāna) and the loosening of pasha (bondage), a key Shaiva Siddhanta theme.

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

Though the verse names ascetics rather than a specific ritual, their Meru-dwelling and tapas imply sustained sadhana that traditionally supports Saguna Shiva worship—such as Linga-puja with mantra-japa—leading the devotee toward deeper realization of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is tapas-yoga: disciplined living, japa (especially Shiva-mantra), and meditative steadiness; in Shaiva practice this is commonly supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and focused devotion to Shiva.