Shloka 21

Ikṣvāku-vaṃśa-prasaṅgaḥ — Genealogy of the Ikṣvāku Line and Exempla of Royal Dharma

Devanagari script

पालने हि महाधर्मः प्रजानामिह दृश्यते । न तथा दृश्यतेऽरण्ये मा तेऽभूद्बुद्धिरीदृशी

Transliteration

pālane hi mahādharmaḥ prajānāmiha dṛśyate | na tathā dṛśyate'raṇye mā te'bhūdbuddhirīdṛśī

Translation

Indeed, the great dharma is seen here in protecting and governing the people. Such dharma is not seen in the forest; therefore, let not such a notion arise in you.

Word by Word

• pālane: in protection / in governance
• pālane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pālana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/हेतुवाचक-अव्यय

• mahā-dharmaḥ: great duty / great dharma
• mahā-dharmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + dharma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘महान् धर्मः’

• prajānām: of the subjects
• prajānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘here/in this matter’)

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense) ‘is seen’

• na: not
• na: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation)

• tathā: so / in that way
• tathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘thus/so’)

• dṛśyate: is seen
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (दृश् धातु)
• Form: लट्, आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग

• araṇye: in the forest
• araṇye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: araṇya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

• mā: do not
• mā: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: mā (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (prohibitive particle used with injunctive/aorist)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी, एकवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (your) अधिकसम्भाव्य

• abhūt: arose / became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• buddhiḥ: thought / idea
• buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• īdṛśī: such (like this)
• īdṛśī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īdṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बुद्धिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as spiritual instructor within Umāsaṃhitā’s dharma-yoga discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that true dharma is not merely outward renunciation but the selfless protection and upliftment of beings; in Shaiva Siddhanta, serving life as Shiva’s manifestation purifies the soul (paśu) and loosens bondage (pāśa) through right action aligned to Pati (Shiva).

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

Linga worship trains the devotee to see Shiva as the inner Lord of all; this verse applies that vision outward—devotion to Saguna Shiva is proven by compassionate responsibility, especially protecting those under one’s care, rather than escaping to the forest out of confusion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily Shiva-smarana with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offer actions as worship—perform one’s duty with steadiness, compassion, and restraint, treating governance/protection as seva to Shiva.