Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

रुणको भविता तस्य सुरथस्तत्सुतः स्मृतः । सुमित्रस्तत्सुतो भावी वंशनिष्ठांत एव हि

Transliteration

ruṇako bhavitā tasya surathastatsutaḥ smṛtaḥ | sumitrastatsuto bhāvī vaṃśaniṣṭhāṃta eva hi

Translation

From him will be born Ruṇaka; his son is remembered as Suratha. Suratha’s son will be Sumitra—indeed, with him the lineage comes to its conclusion.

Word by Word

• रुणकः: Ruṇaka
• रुणकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुणक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• भविता: will be
• भविता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु) + तृच्/तृन् (कृदन्त; भवितृ)
• Form: कर्तृवाचक-तृन्/तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—“भविष्यति” (will be)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• सुरथः: Suratha
• सुरथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• तत्सुतः: his son
• तत्सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (tat-suta = his son); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is said (to be)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle used predicatively); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—“उच्यते/कथ्यते” (is said/remembered as)

• सुमित्रः: Sumitra
• सुमित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुमित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• तत्सुतः: his son
• तत्सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भावी: future (to come)
• भावी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भू (धातु) + णिनि (कृदन्त; भाविन्)
• Form: णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त (future/impending sense); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies सुमित्रः/तत्सुतः)

• वंशनिष्ठान्तः: the end of the lineage
• वंशनिष्ठान्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (vaṃśa-niṣṭhānta = end/termination of the lineage); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle “indeed/only”)

• हि: for/indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); कारण/बल (for/indeed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Runaka
• Suratha
• Sumitra

FAQs

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

It highlights the Purāṇic view that worldly dynasties are finite; even honored lineages conclude, directing the listener toward lasting refuge in Pati (Lord Shiva) rather than in temporal power.

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

By emphasizing the end of a lineage, the text implicitly contrasts perishable worldly continuity with the eternal presence of Saguna Shiva worshiped as the Liṅga, whose grace alone grants enduring auspiciousness and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is remembrance of Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to transcend attachment to family-line pride and anchor the mind in Shiva as the eternal refuge.