Shloka 76

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

प्रविशंति सुरश्रेष्ठ हरिं नारायणं परम् । स्रष्टारं सर्व भूतानां कल्पांतेषु पुनःपुनः

Transliteration

praviśaṃti suraśreṣṭha hariṃ nārāyaṇaṃ param | sraṣṭāraṃ sarva bhūtānāṃ kalpāṃteṣu punaḥpunaḥ

Translation

O best of the gods, again and again at the end of each aeon, they enter into Hari—supreme Nārāyaṇa—who, in the next cycle, becomes the creator of all beings. From the Śaiva standpoint, this speaks of the periodic dissolution and re-emergence of cosmic functions, while the Supreme Lord Śiva remains the transcendent Pati beyond these changing roles.

Word by Word

• praviśanti: enter
• praviśanti: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-viś (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; उपसर्गः प्र-

• suraśreṣṭha: O best of gods
• suraśreṣṭha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura-śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (श्रेष्ठः सुरः)

• harim: Hari
• harim: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• nārāyaṇam: Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇam: Karma (कर्म/object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; हरिम् इति विशेषण/अप्पोजिशन

• param: supreme
• param: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• sraṣṭāram: the creator
• sraṣṭāram: Karma (कर्म/object-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraṣṭṛ (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; सृज्-धातोः तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun: creator)

• sarva: of all
• sarva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन; भूतानाम् इत्यस्य विशेषण (genitive qualifier)

• bhūtānām: of beings
• bhūtānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), बहुवचन

• kalpānteṣu: at the ends of kalpas
• kalpānteṣu: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa-anta (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), बहुवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कल्पस्य अन्तः)

• punaḥ-punaḥ: again and again
• punaḥ-punaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थे (reduplication: again and again)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpānta-laya: devas enter into Nārāyaṇa at the end of aeons; re-emergence of creator role next cycle

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narayana
• Hari

FAQs

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

It highlights the repeating rhythm of dissolution and re-manifestation: beings merge into the cosmic principle (here identified with Nārāyaṇa) at kalpa’s end, yet liberation in Śaiva thought is to realize the Supreme Śiva who transcends all cyclical cosmic offices.

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

The verse points to cosmic absorption and re-emergence; Linga-worship trains the devotee to see all functions—creation, preservation, dissolution—as dependent on the one Supreme Pati (Śiva), with the Linga as the stable sign of the transcendent beyond changing forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on impermanence of kalpas and practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating detachment from cyclic existence and steadiness in Śiva-bhakti.