Shloka 26

Manvantarāṇukīrtana

Enumeration of the Manvantaras and Manus

Devanagari script

तपोरतिरकल्माषो धन्वी खड्गी महानृषिः । तामसस्य स्मृता एते दश पुत्रा महाव्रताः

Transliteration

taporatirakalmāṣo dhanvī khaḍgī mahānṛṣiḥ | tāmasasya smṛtā ete daśa putrā mahāvratāḥ

Translation

తపోరతి, అకల్మాష, ధన్వీ, ఖడ్గీ, మహానృషి—వీరు తామసుని మహావ్రతధారులైన పది కుమారులలో స్మరింపబడుతారు।

Word by Word

• तपोरतिः: Tapas-delight (one named Taporatī)
• तपोरतिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (tapasya ratiḥ)

• अकल्माषः: Akalmaṣa (one named Akalmaṣa)
• अकल्माषः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकल्माष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• धन्वी: bowman; one named Dhanvī
• धन्वी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor of a bow)

• खड्गी: swordsman; one named Khaḍgī
• खड्गी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessor of a sword)

• महानृषिः: the great sage (Mahānṛṣi as a name/epithet)
• महानृषिः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महान् + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् ऋषिः)

• तामसस्य: of Tāmasa
• तामसस्य: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तामस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• स्मृताः: are remembered/are said to be
• स्मृताः: विधेय (Predicate; passive sense)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषणरूपेण (predicative)

• एते: these
• एते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• दश: ten
• दश: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-विशेषणम्; (indeclinable-like numeral) पुत्रान् विशेषयति

• पुत्राः: sons
• पुत्राः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महाव्रताः: of great vows; great-vowed
• महाव्रताः: विशेषण (Adjectival qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (महद् व्रतम् येषाम्/महाव्रताः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it completes the genealogical enumeration of Tāmasa’s ten sons, described as mahāvratāḥ—upholders of dharma within the Manvantara.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Continuation of Manvantara genealogy: portrayal of dharma-maintaining progeny (mahāvrata) within cyclical time.

Characters & Entities

• Tāmasa
• Taporati
• Akalmāṣa
• Dhanvī
• Khaḍgī
• Mahānṛṣi

FAQs

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

It honors the ideal of mahāvrata—steadfast vows, discipline, and purity—showing that spiritual authority in Shaiva tradition is grounded in tapas (austerity) and dharma, not merely birth or power.

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

By praising great-vowed descendants, the text implies that Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-pūjā with mantra and observances) is sustained by disciplined living—vrata, self-restraint, and devotion—through which the devotee becomes fit for Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is vrata and tapas: adopt a regular vow such as daily Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple satvic discipline, and consistent Shiva-pūjā; the verse highlights vow-keeping as the core practice.