Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

शेते लोकविनाशाय तप आस्थाय दारुणम् । संवत्सरस्य पर्यन्ते स निश्वासं विमुंचति

Transliteration

śete lokavināśāya tapa āsthāya dāruṇam | saṃvatsarasya paryante sa niśvāsaṃ vimuṃcati

Translation

For the destruction of the worlds, he lies absorbed in fierce austerity; and at the end of a year, he releases his breath—one single out-breath—forth.

Word by Word

• शेते: lies down
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• लोक-विनाशाय: for the destruction of the worlds
• लोक-विनाशाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + विनाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (लोकानां विनाशः)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (कर्मरूपे)

• आस्थाय: having undertaken
• आस्थाय: Kriya (क्रिया/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); ‘having undertaken’

• दारुणम्: terrible
• दारुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘तपः’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• संवत्सरस्य: of a year
• संवत्सरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संवत्सर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पर्यन्ते: at the end
• पर्यन्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Time-location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• निश्वासम्: breath/exhalation
• निश्वासम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्वास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विमुञ्चति: releases
• विमुञ्चति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Uma-saṃhitā account to the sages, describing the cosmic power of a great being’s tapas and breath)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: World-threatening tapas generating periodic catastrophic exhalation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays how immense tapas concentrates will and prāṇa so powerfully that even a single “breath-release” becomes a cosmic event. In Shaiva Siddhanta, this points to Shiva (Pati) as the ultimate governor of dissolution, while yogic mastery symbolizes inward control that leads the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation.

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s tangible, operative sovereignty in the cosmos—an aspect devotees approach through Saguna worship such as the Śiva-liṅga. By worshipping the Liṅga with mantra and dhyāna, the devotee aligns with Shiva’s regulating power over prāṇa and mind, transforming fear of destruction into reverence for divine order.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A takeaway is disciplined tapas with breath-aware meditation: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while observing inhalation/exhalation, supported by Shaiva markers like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa for steadiness and remembrance of Shiva’s lordship over prāṇa.