Shloka 3

Devanagari script

शङ्करौवाच / भवतीभिः प्रजाः सर्वा रक्षणीया न संशयः / तस्माड्वोरतरप्रायं मनः शीघ्रं निवर्त्यताम्

Transliteration

śaṅkarauvāca / bhavatībhiḥ prajāḥ sarvā rakṣaṇīyā na saṃśayaḥ / tasmāḍvorataraprāyaṃ manaḥ śīghraṃ nivartyatām

Translation

Śaṅkara said: “All beings must indeed be protected by you—of this there is no doubt. Therefore, quickly turn your minds away from the path that tends toward devouring and destruction.”

Word by Word

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• भवतीभिः: by you (ladies)
• भवतीभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवती (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रयोग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; आदरार्थे ‘you (ladies)’

• प्रजाः: creatures/subjects
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object of protection)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of प्रजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• रक्षणीयाः: must be protected
• रक्षणीयाः: Kriya (Predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (अनीयर्/gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण ‘to be protected’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Therefore/from that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वः: for you
• वः: Sampradana/Sambandha (to/for you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन-बहुवचन-रूप (Genitive/Dative enclitic), बहुवचनार्थे; ‘of you/to you’

• अतरप्रायम्: inclined toward the wrong/other course
• अतरप्रायम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of मनः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अतरं प्रायम्’ (= inclined to the other/evil course)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object to be turned back)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘quickly’

• निवर्त्यताम्: let it be turned back/withdrawn
• निवर्त्यताम्: Kriya (Injunctive/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी/कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive imperative) ‘let it be turned back’

Speaker

Shankara (Lord Shiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The duty of powerful protectors is rakṣaṇa (protection), not consumption; immediate turning away from destructive inclination is required.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha and niyama; mastery over mind (manonigraha) as prerequisite for righteous action.

Application: Practice rapid interruption of harmful impulses; adopt vows/roles centered on protection (caregiving, service); use discernment before acting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.4 (disregard of this counsel and ensuing devouring)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Prajah (all beings/creatures)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting prajāḥ (all beings) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames protection of all creatures as a clear dharmic duty, urging guardianship and non-harm as foundational conduct.

How does this verse relate to karma and the consequences of violence?

By instructing the mind to withdraw from voracious, harmful impulses, it implies that हिंसा-driven actions are adharma and lead to negative karmic results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and compassion: avoid harming others for gain, protect dependents and the vulnerable, and consciously redirect destructive impulses.