Shloka 34

Hari’s Special Mercy, Śiva’s Quick Boons, and the Deliverance from Vṛkāsura

Devanagari script

यद्यसत्यं वच: शम्भो: कथञ्चिद् दानवर्षभ । तदैनं जह्यसद्वाचं न यद वक्तानृतं पुन: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

yady asatyaṁ vacaḥ śambhoḥ kathañcid dānavarṣabha tadainaṁ jahy asad-vācaṁ na yad vaktānṛtaṁ punaḥ

Translation

If the words of Lord Śambhu prove untrue in any way, O best of the demons, then kill the liar so he may never lie again.

Synonyms

• yadi: if
• yadi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/शर्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्तबोधक अव्यय)

• asatyam: untrue
• asatyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asatya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; predicate adjective qualifying vacaḥ

• vacaḥ: speech/word
• vacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (1st), Singular

• śambhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhoḥ: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• kathañcit: somehow
• kathañcit: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathañcit (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), ‘somehow/in any way’

• dānava-ṛṣabha: O bull among the demons
• dānava-ṛṣabha: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣabha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘dānavānāṁ ṛṣabha’

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

• enam: this one/him
• enam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• jahi: kill/strike down
• jahi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• asad-vācām: (him) of false speech / false-tongued
• asad-vācām: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: asat (प्रातिपदिक) + vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; कर्मधारय: ‘asatī vāk yasyāḥ/ asatī vāk’ used as epithet of enam

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध)

• yat: that which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Relative pronoun, Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; correlates with tadā

• vaktā: a speaker
• vaktā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vaktṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• anṛtam: falsehood
• anṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anṛta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरावृत्तिवाचक)

Purport

Lord Śiva may have the power to revive himself even after being killed, but at least he will be dissuaded from lying again.

Characters & Entities

• Śambhu (Lord Śiva)
• Dānava (addressed as dānavarṣabha)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about truthfulness (satya) and lying (anṛta)?

This verse stresses that repeating or endorsing false speech is improper; truthfulness is upheld as a core principle of dharma.

Why is Lord Śiva (Śambhu) mentioned in a discussion about false words?

The verse reflects a narrative tension where Śiva’s statement is perceived as not matching events; the speaker argues that one should not support or repeat what appears to be untrue.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Do not justify or spread statements you believe are false; align your speech with integrity, even when emotions, loyalty, or group pressure tempt you otherwise.