Shloka 52

Manu’s Progeny and the Birth of Iḍā

Genealogy and Dharma-Choice

Devanagari script

तस्येकोभूत्सुतः श्रेष्ठः प्रयातिर्धर्मवित्तथा । इति श्रुतं मया व्यासात्तत्प्रोक्तं हि समासतः

Transliteration

tasyekobhūtsutaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ prayātirdharmavittathā | iti śrutaṃ mayā vyāsāttatproktaṃ hi samāsataḥ

Translation

ତାଙ୍କର ଗୋଟିଏମାତ୍ର ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ପୁତ୍ର ଥିଲା—ପ୍ରୟାତି—ଯିଏ ଧର୍ମଜ୍ଞ ମଧ୍ୟ ଥିଲା। ଏହା ମୁଁ ବ୍ୟାସଙ୍କଠାରୁ ଶୁଣିଛି; ସେହି କଥାକୁ ମୁଁ ସଂକ୍ଷେପରେ କହିଲି।

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen.), एकवचन

• एकः: one
• एकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• अभूत्: was; became
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुतः: son
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठः: excellent; best
• श्रेष्ठः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; विशेषण

• प्रयातिः: Prayāti (name)
• प्रयातिः: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; नाम (proper noun)

• धर्मवित्: knower of dharma
• धर्मवित्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-वित् (प्रातिपदिक; components: धर्म + वित्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom.), एकवचन; ‘वित्’ (knower)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानवाचक (also/likewise)

• इति: thus
• इति: Vākyārtha-sūcaka (वाक्यार्थसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक (quotative/closure particle)

• श्रुतम्: heard
• श्रुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr.), एकवचन

• व्यासात्: from Vyāsa
• व्यासात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Abl.), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन; ‘तत् प्रोक्तम्’ इत्यत्र कर्म

• प्रोक्तम्: told; stated
• प्रोक्तम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• समासतः: in brief; concisely
• समासतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: briefly/in summary)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Vyasa
• Prayati

FAQs

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

It emphasizes faithful transmission of sacred knowledge (śruti-smṛti style) through the guru-paramparā—Sūta relays what he heard from Vyāsa—while praising dharma-jñāna as a mark of nobility in a devotee’s lineage.

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

Though the verse is genealogical, it frames the Shiva Purana’s authority and continuity—an essential basis for practicing Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā) according to teachings received through authentic tradition.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is śravaṇa (devotional listening) and smaraṇa (recollection) of Shiva Purana teachings from a trustworthy source, as a foundation for mantra-japa such as the Panchākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya"—and daily Shiva worship.