Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

एतद्वैवस्वते वंशे राजानो भूरिदक्षिणाः । इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवाः प्राधान्येन प्रकीर्तिताः

Transliteration

etadvaivasvate vaṃśe rājāno bhūridakṣiṇāḥ | ikṣvākuvaṃśaprabhavāḥ prādhānyena prakīrtitāḥ

Translation

In this Vaivasvata lineage, the kings renowned for abundant gifts (given in sacrifice and charity)—chiefly those born in the Ikṣvāku dynasty—are especially celebrated as foremost.

Word by Word

• एतत्-वैवस्वते: in this Vaivasvata
• एतत्-वैवस्वते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वंशे): ‘in this Vaivasvata (lineage)’

• वंशे: in the lineage
• वंशे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वंश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• राजानः: kings
• राजानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भूरि-दक्षिणाः: very generous (of many gifts)
• भूरि-दक्षिणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying राजानः): ‘having abundant gifts/fees’

• इक्ष्वाकु-वंश-प्रभवाः: originating from Ikṣvāku’s dynasty
• इक्ष्वाकु-वंश-प्रभवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इक्ष्वाकु (प्रातिपदिक) + वंश (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying राजानः); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘born from the Ikṣvāku lineage’

• प्राधान्येन: primarily/chiefly
• प्राधान्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राधान्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; adverbial instrumental ‘chiefly/primarily’

• प्रकीर्तिताः: are proclaimed/celebrated
• प्रकीर्तिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्यय (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; predicate of राजानः

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes dāna/dakṣiṇā and yajña-support as dharmic acts; in Śaiva reading, generosity becomes a preparatory virtue (caryā) conducive to receiving Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Vaivasvata-Manu epoch framing (current manvantara context implied by ‘vaivasvata vaṃśa’).

Characters & Entities

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Ikshvaku

FAQs

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

It praises dharmic kings who uphold yajña and dāna (charity), showing that righteous conduct and generous giving are honored as supports for spiritual order—an outer discipline that can mature into devotion to Pati (Śiva) and liberation.

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

By highlighting dakṣiṇā and sacrificial duty, it reflects the Shiva Purana’s emphasis that proper ritual life—when offered with humility—becomes an offering to Saguna Śiva, the Lord worshiped through liṅga-pūjā and temple rites.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined dāna and yajña-support: give dakṣiṇā with purity and devotion, and pair it with simple Śiva-upāsanā such as daily liṅga-abhiṣeka and japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”