Shloka 13

Devanagari script

वननित्यैर्वनचरैर्वनस्थैर्वनगोचरै: । वन॑ गुरुमिवासाद्य वस्तव्यं वनजीविभि:,वानप्रस्थको सदा वनमें ही रहना, वनमें ही विचरना, वनमें ही ठहरना, वनके ही मार्गपर चलना और गुरुकी भाँति वनकी शरण लेकर वनमें ही जीवन-निर्वाह करना चाहिये

Transliteration

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

Translation

Mahādeva said: “Those who live by the forest should keep the forest as their constant home—moving within it, dwelling in it, and following its paths. Approaching the forest as one would approach a guru, they should take refuge in it and sustain their life there.”

Word by Word

वननित्यैःby those who are always in the forest

वनचरैःby forest-roamers

वनस्थैःby those dwelling in the forest

वनगोचरैःby those whose range is the forest

वनम्the forest

गुरुम्a teacher; guru

इवlike, as

आसाद्यhaving approached; having taken refuge in

वस्तव्यम्is to be dwelt (one should dwell)

वनजीविभिःby forest-livers; by those who live in the forest

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī-Maheśvara (Mahādeva/Śiva)

vana (the forest, as an idealized refuge/guru)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.