Shloka 4

Śiva-nāma-smaraṇa and Śambhu’s Protective Manifestation

Dāruka Episode

Devanagari script

दारुक उवाच । किं ध्यायसि हि वैश्य त्वं सत्यं वद ममाग्रतः । एवं सति न मृत्युस्ते मम वाक्यं च नान्यथा

Transliteration

dāruka uvāca | kiṃ dhyāyasi hi vaiśya tvaṃ satyaṃ vada mamāgrataḥ | evaṃ sati na mṛtyuste mama vākyaṃ ca nānyathā

Translation

Dāruka said: “O vaiśya, what indeed are you meditating upon? Speak the truth before me. If it is so, then death will not come to you—my word shall not be otherwise.”

Word by Word

• दारुकः: Dāruka
• दारुकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दारुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक

• ध्यायसि: do you meditate/think
• ध्यायसि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: हेतौ/निश्चये अव्यय (indeed/for)

• वैश्य: O Vaiśya
• वैश्य: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुषार्थे सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सत्यम्: truth, truly
• सत्यम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as adverb: truthfully)

• वद: speak
• वद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वद् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अग्रतः: in front (of me)
• अग्रतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: स्थानवाचक अव्यय (adverb of place: in front of)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus)

• सति: when it is so
• सति: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त, √अस् धातु)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present participle); लोके सति-प्रयोगः (locative absolute: 'when/if this is so')

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• मृत्युः: death
• मृत्युः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वाक्यम्: word, statement
• वाक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता) (elliptic: 'my word [is]')
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (otherwise)

Speaker

Dāruka

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights satya (truthfulness) and dhyāna (steady contemplation) as marks of inner strength; in Shaiva understanding, sincere devotion and truth align the devotee with Shiva’s protective grace, loosening the fear of death.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the narrative tone fits Jyotirlinga-centered devotion where meditation is directed to Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord; truthful confession and focused worship are presented as conditions for receiving protection and assurance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna with satya: maintain truthful speech and a steady mind in Shiva-contemplation—commonly supported in Shaiva practice by japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), along with disciplined conduct.