Shloka 20

Devanagari script

स वै राजा हरिश्चन्द्रो त्रैशंकव इति स्मृतः । आहर्ता राजसूयस्य सम्राडिति ह विश्रुतः

Transliteration

sa vai rājā hariścandro traiśaṃkava iti smṛtaḥ | āhartā rājasūyasya samrāḍiti ha viśrutaḥ

Translation

That king was Hariścandra, remembered as a descendant of Triśaṅku. He performed the Rājasūya sacrifice and was truly renowned as a samrāṭ, a universal sovereign.

Word by Word

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• राजा: king
• राजा: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• हरिश्चन्द्रः: Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रः: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि-चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नाम; समासः—हरिः च चन्द्रः (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व, नामरूपेण)

• त्रैशंकवः: (called) Traiśaṅkava
• त्रैशंकवः: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैशंकव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषणवत् उपनाम (epithet)

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is remembered/called)

• आहर्ता: performer/one who brings (i.e., conducts)
• आहर्ता: कर्ता (कर्तृ/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ-हृ (धातु) + आहर्तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• राजसूयस्य: of the Rājasūya (sacrifice)
• राजसूयस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजसूय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—राज्ञः सूयः/सूयकर्म (राजसूयः, तत्पुरुष)

• सम्राट्: emperor
• सम्राट्: समानााधिकरण (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्राज्/सम्राट् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• ह: indeed/forsooth
• ह: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: स्मरण/प्रसिद्ध्यर्थक-अव्यय (particle used in narration)

• विश्रुतः: is renowned
• विश्रुतः: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + विश्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (is renowned)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Harishchandra
• Trishanku

FAQs

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

By praising Hariścandra as famed and dharmic, the Purāṇa upholds satya (truth) and righteous kingship as supports for inner purity—qualities that, in Shaiva thought, make one fit for Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Though the verse is genealogical, it frames the Shaiva narrative world where external sovereignty (samrāṭ) is secondary to alignment with dharma—an attitude essential for approaching Saguna Shiva in Linga worship with humility and sincerity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to pair outer duty with inner discipline: maintain truthfulness and vow-like steadiness while performing daily Shiva worship—such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a focused mind.