Shloka 21

Satyavrata, Vasiṣṭha, and the Crisis of Dharma: Protection, Anger, and Vow-Discipline

Devanagari script

हरिश्चन्द्रस्य हि सुतो रोहितो नाम विश्रुतः । रोहितस्य वृकः पुत्रो वृकाद्बाहुस्तु जज्ञिवान्

Transliteration

hariścandrasya hi suto rohito nāma viśrutaḥ | rohitasya vṛkaḥ putro vṛkādbāhustu jajñivān

Translation

ಹರಿಶ್ಚಂದ್ರನಿಗೆ ‘ರೋಹಿತ’ ಎಂಬ ಪ್ರಸಿದ್ಧ ಪುತ್ರನಿದ್ದನು. ರೋಹಿತನ ಪುತ್ರ ವೃಕ; ವೃಕನಿಂದ ಬಾಹು ಜನಿಸಿದನು.

Word by Word

• हरिश्चन्द्रस्य: of Hariścandra
• हरिश्चन्द्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरिश्चन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (possessive relation)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); अवधान/हेतु-भाव (indeed/for)

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• रोहितः: Rohita
• रोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• नाम: by name
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नामार्थक-निपात (marker meaning “by name”)

• विश्रुतः: well-known
• विश्रुतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies रोहितः)

• रोहितस्य: of Rohita
• रोहितस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• वृकः: Vṛka
• वृकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• पुत्रः: son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; वृकः इत्यस्य अप्पोजिशन् (apposition)

• वृकात्: from Vṛka
• वृकात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अपादान (source/origin)

• बाहुः: Bāhu
• बाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• तु: and/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle); विरोध/अनुक्रम (but/and then)

• जज्ञिवान्: was born
• जज्ञिवान्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्तवतुँ (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवतुँ-प्रत्ययान्त (perfective past participle used finitely); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः—“जज्ञे/अजायत” (was born)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Harishchandra
• Rohita
• Vṛka
• Bāhu

FAQs

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

This verse situates later spiritual narratives within a sacred lineage, showing how dharma and devotion unfold through generations—an important puranic method for linking human kingship to the higher governance of Pati (Shiva).

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

Though the verse is genealogical, the Shiva Purana frames such lineages as the historical ground where Shiva-bhakti, vows, and temple traditions arise; the continuity of kings supports public worship of Saguna Shiva (Lingarcana) across time.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this verse; a fitting Shaiva takeaway is daily remembrance of Shiva with the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” dedicating one’s family duties and ancestry-pride to the Lord as Pati.