Shloka 55

Manu’s Progeny and the Birth of Iḍā

Genealogy and Dharma-Choice

Devanagari script

अजानन्नहनद्बभ्रोश्शिरश्शार्दूलशंकया । निश्चक्राम सभीर्व्याघ्रो दृष्ट्वा तं खड्गिनं प्रभुम्

Transliteration

ajānannahanadbabhrośśiraśśārdūlaśaṃkayā | niścakrāma sabhīrvyāghro dṛṣṭvā taṃ khaḍginaṃ prabhum

Translation

Not recognizing him, he struck off the brown one’s head, mistaking it for a tiger. But when the tiger saw that Lord bearing a sword, it withdrew in fear.

Word by Word

• ajānan: not knowing
• ajānan: Karta (कर्ता/agent; participle qualifying subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु) with a- (निषेध)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'not knowing'

• ahanat: struck, killed
• ahanat: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √han (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• babhroḥ: of the brown one (bear)
• babhroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: babhru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म (object)

• śārdūla-śaṅkayā: due to the suspicion (that it was) a tiger
• śārdūla-śaṅkayā: Hetu (हेतु/cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārdūla (प्रातिपदिक) + śaṅkā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'śārdūlasya śaṅkā'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; हेतौ/करणे (instrumental of cause)

• niścakrāma: went out
• niścakrāma: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kram (धातु) with nis-/nir- उपसर्ग
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; 'went out/issued forth'

• sa-bhīḥ: fearful, with fear
• sa-bhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of vyāghraḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + bhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह-तत्पुरुष: 'bhayena saha'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

• vyāghraḥ: the tiger
• vyāghraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): 'having seen'

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• khaḍginam: sword-bearing
• khaḍginam: Karma (कर्म/qualifier of prabhum)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: khaḍgin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण

• prabhum: the lord/master
• prabhum: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्म

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how ajñāna (ignorance) leads to harmful action, while the Lord’s manifest power dispels fear and restores order—pointing to Shiva as Pati who removes delusion and protects the world.

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

It reflects Saguna Shiva’s accessible, protective presence: when the Lord is perceived as He truly is, fear subsides. Linga-worship similarly trains the mind to recognize Shiva beyond mistaken appearances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady awareness to overcome misperception (bhrānti), supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha to anchor remembrance of Shiva.