Shloka 17

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa-prasaṅgaḥ — Genealogy of the Ikṣvāku Line and Exempla of Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

यदा तदा भूश्चलति सशैलवनकानना । सविस्फुलिंगं सांगारं सधूममपि वारुणम्

Transliteration

yadā tadā bhūścalati saśailavanakānanā | savisphuliṃgaṃ sāṃgāraṃ sadhūmamapi vāruṇam

Translation

その時まさに、大地は山々・森・林苑とともに震え動き、さらに水の界までもが騒ぎ立ち、火花と熾火と煙を帯びたかのように見えた。

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal conjunction/adverb)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Temporal link)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (then)

• भूः: the earth
• भूः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चलति: shakes/moves
• चलति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चल् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स-शैल-वन-कानना: together with mountains, forests, and groves
• स-शैल-वन-कानना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत् ‘सह’) + शैल (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक) + कानन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘भूः’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः/बहुपद-समाहारः (शैलवनकाननैः सह)

• स-विस्फुलिङ्गम्: with sparks
• स-विस्फुलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय ‘सह’) + विस्फुलिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘वारुणम्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (विस्फुलिङ्गैः सह)

• स-अङ्गारम्: with embers
• स-अङ्गारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय ‘सह’) + अङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘वारुणम्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (अङ्गारैः सह)

• स-धूमम्: with smoke
• स-धूमम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय ‘सह’) + धूम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘वारुणम्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धूमेन सह)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) = also/even

• वारुणम्: the watery element / (wind)
• वारुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (अत्र) ‘वारुणम्’ = जल/वारि-सम्बद्धं तत्त्वम्, अथवा वारुण-वायुः (wind) इत्यर्थे

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Elemental agitation: earth-quake and disturbance of the waters with smoke/embers

Characters & Entities

• Varuna

FAQs

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

It portrays how Prakriti (the manifested world of elements) reacts when Shiva’s overwhelming śakti becomes manifest—reminding the seeker that Pati (Shiva) stands beyond the trembling of the cosmos and is the stable refuge for liberation.

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

Such cosmic disturbances function as narrative markers of Shiva’s palpable presence; in Saguna worship, the Linga is honored as the steady axis of consciousness amid changing elements—earth, fire, and water—depicted here as agitated.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplative dhyāna on Shiva as the unmoving witness, especially during fear or instability symbolized by trembling earth and disturbed waters.