Shloka 12

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa-prasaṅgaḥ — Genealogy of the Ikṣvāku Line and Exempla of Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

उत्तंक उवाच । भवता रक्षणं कार्यं पृथिव्या धर्मतः शृणु । त्वया हि पृथिवी राजन्रक्ष्यमाणा महात्मना

Transliteration

uttaṃka uvāca | bhavatā rakṣaṇaṃ kāryaṃ pṛthivyā dharmataḥ śṛṇu | tvayā hi pṛthivī rājanrakṣyamāṇā mahātmanā

Translation

Uttaṃka said: “It is your duty to protect the earth in accordance with dharma—listen. For, O king, when the earth is protected by you, the great-souled one, she is truly safeguarded.”

Word by Word

• उत्तंकः: Uttaṅka
• उत्तंकः: कर्ता (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तंक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• भवता: by you
• भवता: कर्ता (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive obligation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); आदरार्थे ‘you’

• रक्षणम्: protection
• रक्षणम्: कर्म (Object/thing to be done)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण (प्रातिपदिक; √रक्ष्-धातोः भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (Singular)

• कार्यम्: must be done
• कार्यम्: विधेय (Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कार्य (कृदन्त; यत्-प्रत्यय, ‘to be done’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• पृथिव्याः: of the earth
• पृथिव्याः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• धर्मतः: according to dharma
• धर्मतः: हेतु/रीति (Manner/according to)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: धर्मतः (अव्यय; धर्म + तस्)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: according to/from the standpoint of dharma)

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: क्रिया (Command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: कर्ता (Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: indeed/for)

• पृथिवी: the earth
• पृथिवी: कर्म (Object in passive: that which is protected)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथिवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• रक्ष्यमाणा: being protected
• रक्ष्यमाणा: विधेय (Predicate participle of पृथिवी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु) → रक्ष्यमाण (कृदन्त; कर्मणि वर्तमान-प्रत्यय ‘यमान’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मणि वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present passive participle)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled (one)
• महात्मना: कर्ता (Agent qualifier; instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular); कर्मधारय-समासः (महान् आत्मा यस्य)

Speaker

Sage Uttaṃka

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Uttaṃka
• King

FAQs

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

The verse presents rājadharma as a sacred responsibility: when a ruler protects the earth through dharma, social order is upheld, enabling beings to follow their duties and progress toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

In Shaiva understanding, dharmic protection of the world is service to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who sustains cosmic order; a king’s righteous governance supports temples, vows, and public worship, including Linga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is disciplined dharma: daily self-restraint, truthful conduct, and protective action as a form of Shiva-sevā; one may reinforce this with regular japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” before undertaking duties.