Shloka 24

प्रसाद-ज्ञान-योग-मोक्षक्रमः तथा व्यास-रुद्रावतार-मन्वन्तर-परम्परा

Devanagari script

वैवस्वतश् च सावर्णिर् धर्मः सावर्णिकः पुनः पिशङ्गश्चापिशङ्गाभः शबलो वर्णकस् तथा

Transliteration

vaivasvataś ca sāvarṇir dharmaḥ sāvarṇikaḥ punaḥ piśaṅgaścāpiśaṅgābhaḥ śabalo varṇakas tathā

Translation

并且还有毗婆斯瓦塔（Vaivasvata）与萨伐尔尼（Sāvarṇi）；又有达摩（Dharma）以及再一次的萨伐尔尼迦（Sāvarṇika）；毗商伽（Piśaṅga）与毗商伽阿婆（Piśaṅgābha）；舍婆罗（Śabala）以及瓦尔那迦（Varṇaka）。

Word by Word

• vaivasvataḥ: Vaivasvata (name/title, associated with the Vaivasvata manvantara)

• ca: and

• sāvarṇiḥ: Sāvarṇi (a Manu/lineage designation)

• dharmaḥ: Dharma (personified righteousness, cosmic regulator)

• sāvarṇikaḥ: Sāvarṇika (connected with Sāvarṇi line)

• punaḥ: again/further

• piśaṅgaḥ: Piśaṅga (tawny/golden-hued, a proper name)

• ca api: and also

• piśaṅgābhaḥ: Piśaṅgābha (one whose appearance is tawny/golden, proper name)

• śabalaḥ: Śabala (variegated/mottled, proper name)

• varṇakaḥ: Varṇaka (having color/complexion, proper name)

• tathā: likewise/so too

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It situates Linga worship within a cosmological framework: the ordered succession of time-cycles and rulers is upheld by Dharma, ultimately dependent on Pati (Shiva) as the ground of cosmic order.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Indirectly: by listing cosmic regulators and lineages, it implies that all such offices function within Shiva’s sovereignty—Pati remains the transcendent support while dharma and manvantara rulers operate as contingent instruments.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is stated; the takeaway is dharma-alignment—Pashupata discipline begins with ordering the pashu’s conduct (dharma) to weaken pāśa (bondage) and orient life toward Shiva.