Shloka 43

Satyavrata, Vasiṣṭha, and the Crisis of Dharma: Protection, Anger, and Vow-Discipline

Devanagari script

वसिष्ठो वंचनां कृत्वा समयेन महाद्युतिः । सगरं वारयामास तेषां दत्त्वाभयं नृपम्

Transliteration

vasiṣṭho vaṃcanāṃ kṛtvā samayena mahādyutiḥ | sagaraṃ vārayāmāsa teṣāṃ dattvābhayaṃ nṛpam

Translation

At the appointed time, the greatly radiant sage Vasiṣṭha, having employed a strategic ruse, restrained King Sagara—first granting those people safety and assurance (abhaya).

Word by Word

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वञ्चनाम्: deception/stratagem
• वञ्चनाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वञ्चना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• समयेन: by an agreement/condition
• समयेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; साधन/उपायार्थे (by means of an agreement/condition)

• महाद्युतिः: the greatly radiant one
• महाद्युतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-द्युति (प्रातिपदिक; महा + द्युति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (of great splendor)

• सगरम्: Sagara
• सगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वारयामास: restrained/forbade
• वारयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: caused to desist/checked)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• दत्त्वा: having given
• दत्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• अभयम्: fearlessness/safety
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपादान/कर्म-सम्बन्धे (as the one addressed/affected)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha
• Sagara

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma as protective power: even firm restraint must be grounded in compassion and the granting of abhayā (fearlessness), reflecting the Shaiva ethic of safeguarding beings while restoring order.

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

Though not directly about the Liṅga, the verse mirrors Saguna Shiva’s role as protector and regulator (niyantṛ): divine governance expressed through a guru’s righteous intervention to prevent harm and uphold dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is cultivating abhayā in sādhanā—begin japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a vow of non-harm and protection of others; let restraint and compassion arise together as a disciplined observance.