Shloka 54

Manu’s Progeny and the Birth of Iḍā

Genealogy and Dharma-Choice

Devanagari script

स एकदाऽऽगतं गोष्ठे व्याघ्रं गा हिंसितुं बली । श्रुत्वा गोकदनं बुद्धो हंतुं तं खड्गधृग्ययौ

Transliteration

sa ekadā''gataṃ goṣṭhe vyāghraṃ gā hiṃsituṃ balī | śrutvā gokadanaṃ buddho haṃtuṃ taṃ khaḍgadhṛgyayau

Translation

ຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ ເສືອທີ່ມີກຳລັງແຮງໄດ້ເຂົ້າມາໃນຄອກງົວ ເພື່ອທຳຮ້າຍງົວ. ເມື່ອໄດ້ຍິນສຽງງົວຖືກກັດກິນ ຜູ້ມີປັນຍາຈຶ່ງຖືດາບອອກໄປ ເພື່ອຂ້າສັດຮ້າຍນັ້ນ.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• आगतम्: having come/arrived
• आगतम्: Karma (कर्म; qualifier of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘व्याघ्रम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषण (agreeing with object)

• गोष्ठे: in the cowshed/pasture
• गोष्ठे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गोष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• व्याघ्रम्: tiger
• व्याघ्रम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्याघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (कर्म/Object of infinitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• हिंसितुम्: to harm/kill
• हिंसितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हिंस् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), अर्थः ‘कर्तुम्’ (to do)

• बली: strong
• बली: Karta (कर्ता; descriptive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of ‘व्याघ्रम्’ implied/understood)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय-भाव (gerund/absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action)

• गोकदनम्: cow-slaughter/cow-killing
• गोकदनम्: Karma (कर्म/Object of ‘श्रुत्वा’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘गवां कदनम्’ (slaughter of cows)

• बुद्धः: alert/aware
• बुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुध् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अर्थः ‘प्रबुद्ध/जागरित’ (aware/alert)

• हन्तुम्: to kill
• हन्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ (purpose)

• तम्: him/that one (the tiger)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• खड्गधृक्: sword-bearer
• खड्गधृक्: Karta (कर्ता; qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धृक्/धृ (धातु-निष्पन्न प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘खड्गं धरति’ (sword-bearer)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The verse models dharmic kṣātra-protection (rakṣā) of the innocent; in Śaiva ethics this is caryā aligned with Śiva’s protective-ferocious aspect against adharma.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It portrays dharma as active protection of the innocent: the wise person does not remain passive before harm, but acts with clarity and courage—qualities aligned with devotion to Pati (Shiva) as the upholder of order.

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

Saguna Shiva is revered as the guardian of beings; this narrative mirrors that protective grace. Linga-worship is not mere ritual—its fruit is inner steadiness that expresses outwardly as fearless, dharmic action.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to cultivate steadiness, combined with a vow of ahiṃsā toward the innocent and readiness to restrain wrongdoing (dharma-rakṣaṇa).