Shloka 20

जम्बूद्वीपस्य नववर्षविभागः रुद्रस्य अष्टक्षेत्रसन्निधिः नाभि-ऋषभ-भरतकथा

Devanagari script

ऋषभं पार्थिवश्रेष्ठं सर्वक्षत्रस्य पूजितम् ऋषभाद्भरतो जज्ञे वीरः पुत्रशताग्रजः

Transliteration

ṛṣabhaṃ pārthivaśreṣṭhaṃ sarvakṣatrasya pūjitam ṛṣabhādbharato jajñe vīraḥ putraśatāgrajaḥ

Translation

Ṛṣabha, le plus éminent des rois, honoré par tout l’ordre des kṣatriya, fut illustre. De Ṛṣabha naquit Bharata, héros, l’aîné de cent fils.

Word by Word

• ऋषभम् (ṛṣabham): Rishabha

• पार्थिव-श्रेष्ठम् (pārthiva-śreṣṭham): the best among kings

• सर्व-क्षत्रस्य (sarva-kṣatrasya): of all Kshatriyas/royal clans

• पूजितम् (pūjitam): honored, revered

• ऋषभात् (ṛṣabhāt): from Rishabha

• भरतः (bharataḥ): Bharata

• जज्ञे (jajñe): was born

• वीरः (vīraḥ): hero, valiant one

• पुत्र-शत-अग्रजः (putra-śata-agrajaḥ): eldest of a hundred sons

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Rishabha
• Bharata

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

By praising Rishabha and Bharata as exemplary kings, the verse frames rajadharma as protective of Shiva-dharma—supporting temples, rites, and the social order in which Linga-puja can flourish.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly: it implies that worldly sovereignty is meaningful when aligned with dharma; in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, the king as a bound soul (paśu) succeeds by honoring dharma under the Lord (Pati), reducing bonds (pāśa) through righteous rule.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is dharmic kingship as a supportive discipline—creating conditions for Pashupata-oriented worship, vows, and maintenance of Shaiva sacred institutions.