Shloka 22

Devanagari script

अहं राजा भवांश्चौरः कथं युद्धप्रयुक्तता । युद्धं मे सबलैः कार्यं नाधमैर्हि कदाचन

Transliteration

ahaṃ rājā bhavāṃścauraḥ kathaṃ yuddhaprayuktatā | yuddhaṃ me sabalaiḥ kāryaṃ nādhamairhi kadācana

Translation

“I am the king, and you are a thief—how can there be any proper engagement in battle between us? If I must fight, my battle should be waged only with the strong, never at any time with the base.”

Word by Word

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• राजा: king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भवान्: you (hon.)
• भवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक; honorific pronoun)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• चौरः: thief
• चौरः: Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate noun of ‘भवान्’

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, interrogative adverb (प्रश्नवाचक)

• युद्ध-प्रयुक्तता: engagement in battle
• युद्ध-प्रयुक्तता: Karta/Viṣaya (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक) + prayuktatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (युद्धे प्रयुक्तता/युद्धप्रयुक्तता); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; abstract noun ‘engagement in battle’

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuddha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• मे: my / for me
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th) एकवचन (enclitic)

• सबलैः: with the strong (men)
• सबलैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa-bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (सह बलैः = सबलैः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; instrumental of accompaniment

• कार्यम्: must be done
• कार्यम्: Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kārya (प्रातिपदिक; from √kṛ)
• Form: कृदन्त/भाव्य (gerundive), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; predicate: ‘is to be done’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, negation particle (निषेध)

• अधमैः: with the low/base (men)
• अधमैः: Sahakārī/Karaṇa (सहकारी/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/बलवाचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, particle (निपात)

• कदाचन: ever / at any time
• कदाचन: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, temporal adverb (कालवाचक)

Speaker

A king (kṣatriya ruler) addressing a thief/opponent (dialogue within Suta Goswami’s narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma as discernment: true strength includes restraint, refusing to dignify base conduct with one’s own energy—an attitude aligned with Shaiva ethics of mastering impulse and acting from right order.

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to honor Shiva as the inner ruler (Pati) who governs action; this verse reflects that discipline by choosing righteous engagement over ego-driven combat.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady anger and pride, and apply bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) as a reminder to act with purity and self-control rather than impulsive hostility.