Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

तीर्थं गां चैव रात्रं च तथैवांतःपुरं मुनिः । याज्योपाध्यायसंयोगाद्वसिष्ठः पर्य्यरक्षत

Transliteration

tīrthaṃ gāṃ caiva rātraṃ ca tathaivāṃtaḥpuraṃ muniḥ | yājyopādhyāyasaṃyogādvasiṣṭhaḥ paryyarakṣata

Translation

Por la autoridad sagrada conjunta del sacerdote oficiante y del maestro preceptor, el sabio Vasiṣṭha salvaguardó debidamente el lugar santo, las vacas, la guardia nocturna y los aposentos interiores del palacio.

Word by Word

• तीर्थम्: the sacred ford/place
• तीर्थम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• गाम्: the cow
• गाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• रात्रम्: the night
• रात्रम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि/रात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/तुल्यत्व (adverb: thus/likewise)

• एव: indeed
• एव: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अन्तःपुरम्: the inner palace/seraglio
• अन्तःपुरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तः (अव्यय/उपसर्ग-प्राय) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्राय समास: अन्तः + पुरम् → अन्तःपुरम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• याज्योपाध्यायसंयोगात्: from the association of the sacrificer and the preceptor
• याज्योपाध्यायसंयोगात्: अपादान/हेतु (Cause/Source/हेतु-अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: याज्य (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाध्याय (प्रातिपदिक) + संयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सम्बन्ध-निर्देश): याज्य-उपाध्याय-सम्बन्धः संयोगः; पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular (cause/source)

• वसिष्ठः: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठः: कर्ता (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Proper noun, Nominative singular

• पर्यरक्षत: protected/guarded
• पर्यरक्षत: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect 3rd sg

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes dharmic protection of tīrtha, go (cows), and antaḥpura as a field where Śiva’s order (niyati) is preserved; merit accrues through safeguarding sacred institutions and dependents.

Characters & Entities

• Vasistha

FAQs

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

It highlights dharma-rakṣa—protecting sacred spaces, cows, and the sanctity of the household—as a practical expression of devotion and righteous order upheld under spiritual authority.

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

Safeguarding tīrthas and maintaining ritual order supports Saguna Shiva worship by preserving the conditions for pūjā, yajña, and disciplined conduct that honor Shiva’s manifest presence in sacred places.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies disciplined observance under a qualified guru/priest—protecting purity of place and conduct; practically, this aligns with regulated worship (ācāra), mantra-japa, and maintaining sanctity in one’s home and shrine.