Shloka 25

स्वायम्भुव-मन्वन्तर-वंशवर्णनम्

Genealogy of Svāyambhuva Manu and the Dhruva Episode

Devanagari script

शिखंडिनी चाजनयत्पुत्रं प्राचीनबर्हिषम् । प्राचीनाग्राः कुशास्तस्य पृथिवीतलचारिणः

Transliteration

śikhaṃḍinī cājanayatputraṃ prācīnabarhiṣam | prācīnāgrāḥ kuśāstasya pṛthivītalacāriṇaḥ

Translation

Y Śikhaṇḍinī dio a luz a un hijo llamado Prācīnabarhiṣ. Sus briznas de hierba kuśa tenían puntas antiguas, y se movían sobre la faz de la tierra.

Word by Word

• शिखण्डिनी: Śikhaṇḍinī
• शिखण्डिनी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखण्डिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (समुच्चय/Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय-बोधक (conjunction)

• अजनयत्: gave birth to/produced
• अजनयत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• पुत्रम्: a son
• पुत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• प्राचीनबर्हिषम्: Prācīnabarhiṣ (name)
• प्राचीनबर्हिषम्: कर्म (Karma; पुत्रम् का विशेष्य/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राचीन + बर्हिष् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (प्राचीन-बर्हिष्; नाम); द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• प्राचीनाग्राः: having old/ancient tips
• प्राचीनाग्राः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier of कुशाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राचीन + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्राचीनम् अग्रं येषाम्/whose tips are ancient/old); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• कुशाः: kuśa grasses
• कुशाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; of implied ‘were/are’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• तस्य: of him/of that (son)
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Masculine/Neuter)

• पृथिवीतलचारिणः: moving on the earth’s surface
• पृथिवीतलचारिणः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier of कुशाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पृथिवी + तल + चारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पृथिवी-तल-चारिन् = earth-surface-wandering); प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The birth of Prācīnabarhiṣ and the epithet involving kuśa (barhis) situate the narrative in a śrauta-ritual culture; it is genealogical/ritual-historical rather than a Jyotirliṅga origin.

Significance: Reinforces the sanctity of Vedic ritual symbols (kuśa/barhis) and the continuity of dharma through ritual-minded rulers.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It anchors the narrative in sacred lineage: the birth of Prācīnabarhiṣ signals continuity of dharma, where Vedic symbols like kuśa point to ritual purity that ultimately supports devotion to Pati (Śiva) and the soul’s upliftment.

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

Though the verse is genealogical, it frames the world of Vedic-karmic order in which Saguna Shiva is worshipped through rites; such purity-symbols prepare the mind for focused devotion that culminates in Shiva-centered worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Kuśa is a classic Vedic aid for ritual cleanliness and steadiness; the takeaway is disciplined purity in worship—supporting practices like mantra-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and orderly pūjā as a foundation for inner concentration.