Shloka 23

Devanagari script

तस्मात्ते च तथा स्वामी भविष्यति भवादृशः । दातारश्च वयं प्रोक्ताश्चौरा यूयं वनेचराः

Transliteration

tasmātte ca tathā svāmī bhaviṣyati bhavādṛśaḥ | dātāraśca vayaṃ proktāścaurā yūyaṃ vanecarāḥ

Translation

Ainsi, sur vous aussi il y aura un maître semblable à vous. Nous sommes dits les dispensateurs, tandis que vous, habitants des forêts, êtes proclamés voleurs.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tasmāt (अव्यय/तद्-प्रातिपदिकात्)
• Form: अव्यय, causal adverb (हेतुवाचक) formed from ablative of ‘तद्’

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• तथा: thus / so
• तथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• स्वामी: master
• स्वामी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svāmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• भविष्यति: will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/भविष्यत्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भवादृशः: one like you
• भवादृशः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhavat (प्रातिपदिक) + dṛś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (भवदृशः = ‘one like you’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; qualifies ‘स्वामी’

• दातारः: givers
• दातारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; from √dā)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, conjunction (समुच्चय)

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• प्रोक्ताः: are called
• प्रोक्ताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: कृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate: ‘are said/called’

• चौराः: thieves
• चौराः: Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; predicate of ‘यूयम्’

• यूयम्: you (pl.)
• यूयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वनेचराः: forest-dwellers
• वनेचराः: Pradhāna (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vana (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक; from √car)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वने चराः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode to the sages of Naimisharanya; the quoted line is spoken by a character within the narrative, preserved through Suta’s narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It underscores dharma as a cosmic order upheld under Shiva’s sovereignty: those who live by giving and righteousness are distinguished from those who live by taking unlawfully, and karmic governance ensures accountability (a “master” over the lawless).

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

Saguna Shiva as the Lord (Svāmī) represents moral governance and protection of dharma; linga-worship is not merely ritual but aligns the devotee’s conduct with Shiva’s order—truthfulness, non-stealing, and rightful livelihood.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice self-restraint and purification alongside Shiva-upasana—daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with vibhuti (tripundra) as a reminder to renounce theft, greed, and harmful taking.