Shloka 3

Sagara-vaṃśa-prasavaḥ — The Birth of Sagara’s Sons and the Bhāgīratha Lineage

Devanagari script

षष्टिपुत्रसहस्राणि एका वव्रे तरस्विनाम् । एकं वंशकरं त्वेका यथेष्टं वरशालिनी

Transliteration

ṣaṣṭiputrasahasrāṇi ekā vavre tarasvinām | ekaṃ vaṃśakaraṃ tvekā yatheṣṭaṃ varaśālinī

Translation

One of them chose sixty thousand vigorous sons; another chose a single son who would continue the lineage. Thus the lady endowed with boons selected her desired blessings as she wished.

Word by Word

• षष्टि-पुत्र-सहस्राणि: sixty thousand sons
• षष्टि-पुत्र-सहस्राणि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; षष्टि-तत्पुरुषः (षष्टेः पुत्राणां सहस्राणि)

• एकā: one woman
• एकā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनामसदृश-विशेषणप्रयोगः

• वव्रे: chose/selected (as a boon)
• वव्रे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: वृञ् (वरणे)

• तरस्विनाम्: of the mighty/energetic ones
• तरस्विनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• एकम्: one
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वंश-करम्: a continuer of the lineage
• वंश-करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वंशं करोति इति)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle)

• एकā: one (woman)
• एकā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• यथा-इष्टम्: as desired
• यथा-इष्टम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• वर-शालिनी: the boon-endowed lady
• वर-शालिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक) + शालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वरैः शालिनी = वरसम्पन्ना)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It contrasts worldly aims (many sons, social power) with a measured dharmic aim (a single heir), implying that desires shape karmic trajectories; Shaiva teaching ultimately points beyond such boons toward Pati (Shiva) as the true refuge.

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

By showing that even exalted boons remain within saṃsāra, the verse indirectly encourages turning from boon-seeking to devotion to Saguna Shiva (Linga worship) as a stabilizing path that ripens into liberation-oriented insight.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to replace wish-driven prayer with daily Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and simple Linga-upāsanā, offering intentions to Shiva rather than bargaining for specific worldly outcomes.