Shloka 39

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

Devanagari script

तस्य पुत्रास्त्रयश्शिष्टाः दृढाश्वः श्रेष्ठ उच्यते । हंसाश्वकपिलाश्वौ च कुमारौ तत्कनीयसौ

Transliteration

tasya putrāstrayaśśiṣṭāḥ dṛḍhāśvaḥ śreṣṭha ucyate | haṃsāśvakapilāśvau ca kumārau tatkanīyasau

Translation

அவனுக்கு மூன்று புதல்வர்கள் மீதமிருந்தனர்; அவர்களில் த்ருடாஷ்வன் முதன்மை எனக் கூறப்படுகிறான்; ஹம்ஸாஷ்வன் மற்றும் கபிலாஷ்வன் அவனுடைய இரு இளவரசர்கள்.

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• त्रयः: three
• त्रयः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘पुत्राः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक-विशेषण (numeral adjective)

• शिष्टाः: remained, were left
• शिष्टाः: कर्मणि-भाव (predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शिष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘अवशिष्टाः’ अर्थे (remaining)

• दृढाश्वः: Dṛḍhāśva (proper name)
• दृढाश्वः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/name)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (दृढः अश्वः यस्य/नाम)

• श्रेष्ठः: the best, foremost
• श्रेष्ठः: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘दृढाश्वः’)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) (उपसर्ग: उ-)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (Passive voice)

• हंसाश्वकपिलाश्वौ: Haṃsāśva and Kapilāśva
• हंसाश्वकपिलाश्वौ: कर्ता/विषय (Subjects/names)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हंसाश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + कपिलाश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: two names)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• कुमारौ: the two youths/sons
• कुमारौ: कर्ता/विषय
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन

• तत्: those
• तत्: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; विशेषण to ‘कुमारौ’ (those)

• कनीयसौ: the two younger (ones)
• कनीयसौ: विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कनीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; तुलनात्मक-विशेषण (comparative: younger)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Dṛḍhāśva
• Haṁsāśva
• Kapilāśva

FAQs

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

The verse preserves sacred lineage (vaṁśa) within the Purāṇic narrative, emphasizing dharmic continuity—an essential backdrop in the Shiva Purana for showing how devotion to Pati (Śiva) is sustained through righteous households and rulers.

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

Though this specific verse is genealogical, Uma-saṁhitā commonly situates such lineages within the larger framework of devotion to Saguna Śiva (worship through form, name, and rite). The naming of heirs supports the narrative setting in which later acts of Śiva-bhakti, vrata, and temple or Liṅga worship are established.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

No direct ritual is prescribed in this line; the practical takeaway is to uphold dharma in family life while maintaining regular Śiva-smaraṇa—daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Liṅga-pūjā where possible.