Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

मन्वन्तर-कल्प-प्रश्नोत्तरम् / Discourse on Manvantaras, Kalpas, and Re-creation

Devanagari script

स्वायंभुवादयस्सप्त सप्त सावर्णिकादयः । तेषु वैवस्वतो नाम सप्तमो वर्तते मनुः

Transliteration

svāyaṃbhuvādayassapta sapta sāvarṇikādayaḥ | teṣu vaivasvato nāma saptamo vartate manuḥ

Translation

స్వాయంభువ మొదలైన ఏడుగురు మనువులు, అలాగే సావర్ణి మొదలైన మరియేడుగురు; వారిలో ‘వైవస్వత’ అనే మనువు ఏడవవాడు, ప్రస్తుతం అధికారం వహిస్తున్నాడు।

Word by Word

• स्वायंभुव-आदयः: those beginning with Svāyambhuva
• स्वायंभुव-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वायंभुव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘स्वायंभुवः आदिः येषाम्’ इति बहुवचन-समूहवाचकः (those beginning with Svāyambhuva)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम्; प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे (qualifying implied ‘मनवः’)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्याशब्द-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम्; प्रथमा बहुवचनार्थे

• सावर्णिक-आदयः: those beginning with Sāvarṇika
• सावर्णिक-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सावर्णिक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘सावर्णिकः आदिः येषाम्’ (those beginning with Sāvarṇika)

• तेषु: among them
• तेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Among/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• वैवस्वतः: Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvān)
• वैवस्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• नाम: by name/namely
• नाम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Naming marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-शब्दः (namely/by name)

• सप्तमः: seventh
• सप्तमः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक-विशेषण (ordinal)

• वर्तते: exists/is current
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• मनुः: Manu
• मनुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Vaivasvata Manvantara (present manvantara) within Vārāha Kalpa

Characters & Entities

• Vaivasvata Manu
• Svayambhuva Manu
• Savarni Manu

FAQs

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

It places human history within Shiva’s vast cosmic order: manvantaras rise and pass under divine governance, reminding the seeker that liberation depends on turning to Pati (Shiva) rather than clinging to transient epochs.

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

By stressing cyclical time and changing rulers (Manus), it indirectly points to the unchanging refuge—Saguna Shiva worshiped as the Linga—who remains the steady support across all manvantaras.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate impermanence of cosmic administrations and anchor the mind in Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a steady practice across life’s changing phases.