Shloka 36

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

एते सप्त महात्मानो भविष्या मुनिसत्तमाः । देवाश्चानागतास्तत्र त्रयः प्रोक्तास्स्वयंभुवा

Transliteration

ete sapta mahātmāno bhaviṣyā munisattamāḥ | devāścānāgatāstatra trayaḥ proktāssvayaṃbhuvā

Translation

“These seven great-souled ones will become the foremost of sages. And there, three gods yet to appear were also declared by Svayambhū (Brahmā).”

Word by Word

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषण; प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (qualifying ‘एते’)

• महात्मानः: great-souled ones
• महात्मानः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा)

• भविष्याः: future
• भविष्याः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भविष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (future ones)

• मुनि-सत्तमाः: best of sages
• मुनि-सत्तमाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां सत्तमाः)

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• अनागताः: not yet come; future
• अनागताः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन् + आगत (कृदन्त; √गम् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP) ‘आगत’ with नञ्-पूर्वक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण

• प्रोक्ताः: said/declared
• प्रोक्ताः: क्रियाविशेषण/विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + उक्त (कृदन्त; √वच् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण/विधेय

• स्वयंभुवा: by Svayambhū (Brahmā)
• स्वयंभुवा: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय) + भू (धातु) → स्वयंभू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/उपपद-समास (स्वयम् भूः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: manvantara-prophecy (future sages and future devas announced by Svayambhū/Brahmā)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that Dharma is preserved through divinely foreseen lineages—great sages and appointed deities arise according to cosmic order, supporting souls (paśu) on the path toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

By highlighting the emergence of sages and gods, the verse points to the authorized transmission of Shaiva worship—rituals, mantra, and Linga devotion are upheld through these enlightened teachers and divine functionaries within the manifest (saguṇa) order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

While no specific rite is stated, the takeaway is to follow the teachings of realized sages—practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined Shaiva conduct as preserved through such lineages.