Shloka 14

Umā-caritra-prārthanā: Ṛṣayaḥ Sūtaṃ Pṛcchanti

Request for the Account of Umā

Devanagari script

स्वारोचिषेन्तरे पूर्वं विरथो नाम पार्थिवः । सुरथस्तस्य पुत्रोऽभून्महाबलपराक्रमः

Transliteration

svārociṣentare pūrvaṃ viratho nāma pārthivaḥ | surathastasya putro'bhūnmahābalaparākramaḥ

Translation

In the earlier period of the Svārociṣa Manvantara, there was a king named Viratha. His son was Suratha, endowed with great strength and heroic valor.

Word by Word

• svārociṣe: in (the) Svārociṣa (Manvantara)
• svārociṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svārociṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; (manvantara-name)

• antare: during/within
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular; used as ‘within/during’

• pūrvam: formerly
• pūrvam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative used as indeclinable

• virathaḥ: Viratha
• virathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle/indeclinable used to indicate name (नाम-अव्यय)

• pārthivaḥ: a king
• pārthivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārthiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; ‘king’

• surathaḥ: Suratha
• surathaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: suratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• abhūt: was/became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Aorist (लुङ्), 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• mahā-bala-parākramaḥ: of great strength and valor
• mahā-bala-parākramaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक) + parākrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; descriptive compound: great strength and valor (as qualities)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Svārociṣa Manvantara (mythic time-cycle reference)

Characters & Entities

• Viratha
• Suratha
• Svārociṣa Manu

FAQs

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

It situates the narrative within a Manvantara and introduces righteous royal lineage, a common Purāṇic frame used to show how dharma in worldly life can become a support for devotion to Pati (Śiva) and eventual liberation.

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

Though this verse is genealogical, such introductions typically prepare for a later episode where a king’s valor is redirected into Saguna Śiva-bhakti—often through Liṅga worship, pilgrimage, or vows—showing the transition from temporal power to devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No specific rite is stated in this verse; the takeaway is to cultivate dharmic discipline and readiness for Śiva-upāsanā, commonly expressed later in the Purāṇa through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular worship of the Liṅga.