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Shloka 13

Pratyakṣa–Āgama–Ācāra: Doubt, Proof, and the Practice of Dharma (प्रत्यक्ष–आगम–आचारविचारः)

वननित्यैर्वनचरैर्वनस्थैर्वनगोचरै: । वन॑ गुरुमिवासाद्य वस्तव्यं वनजीविभि:

vananityair vanacarair vanasthair vanagocaraiḥ | vanaṁ gurum ivāsādya vastavyaṁ vanajīvibhiḥ ||

قال مهاديڤا: «من يعيشون بالاعتماد على الغابة فليجعلوا الغابة دارهم الدائمة—يتنقّلون فيها، ويقيمون فيها، ويسلكون مسالكها. وليدنوا من الغابة كما يُدنى من الغورو؛ فليتخذوا فيها ملجأً، وليقيموا حياتهم هناك.»

वननित्यैःby those who are always in the forest
वननित्यैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवन-नित्य
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वनचरैःby forest-roamers
वनचरैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवनचर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वनस्थैःby those dwelling in the forest
वनस्थैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवनस्थ
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वनगोचरैःby those whose range is the forest
वनगोचरैः:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootवनगोचर
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural
वनम्the forest
वनम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootवन
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
गुरुम्a teacher; guru
गुरुम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootगुरु
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
इवlike, as
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
आसाद्यhaving approached; having taken refuge in
आसाद्य:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-√सद्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)
वस्तव्यम्is to be dwelt (one should dwell)
वस्तव्यम्:
TypeVerb
Root√वस्
FormGerundive (तव्यत्), Neuter, Nominative, Singular
वनजीविभिःby forest-livers; by those who live in the forest
वनजीविभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootवनजीविन्
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Plural

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Ś
Śrī-Maheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)
V
vana (the forest, as an idealized refuge/guru)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches the dharma of one who has taken to forest-life: to make the forest one’s steady abode and discipline, treating it like a guru—i.e., living simply, restrained, and supported by what the forest provides rather than by worldly dependence.

Śrī Maheśvara is instructing on the proper conduct of forest-dwellers (vanajīvin/vanaprastha-type life), emphasizing continuous residence and movement within the forest and a reverential reliance on it as a guiding refuge.