Shloka 23

तपः–मन्त्रजप–ध्यानविधिः

Protocol of Tapas, Mantra-Japa, and Śiva-Dhyāna

Devanagari script

गुरोश्च वचनं मेद्य वर्तते दुःखदस्त्वया । हन्तव्यः सर्वथा राजन्नात्र कार्या विचारणा

Transliteration

gurośca vacanaṃ medya vartate duḥkhadastvayā | hantavyaḥ sarvathā rājannātra kāryā vicāraṇā

Translation

‘ഗുരുവിന്റെ വചനവും നീ എനിക്ക് ദുഃഖകാരണമാക്കി. അതിനാൽ, ഹേ രാജാവേ, നിന്നെ നിർബന്ധമായും വധിക്കണം; ഇതിൽ ആലോചന വേണ്ട.’

Word by Word

• गुरोः: of the teacher
• गुरोः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• वचनम्: word/command
• वचनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-रूप (Genitive/Dative), एकवचन; अत्र—षष्ठी (my)

• द्य: today/now
• द्य: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (today/now); पाठभेद-सूचक: ‘मेद्य’ इति संहितायाम्

• वर्तते: is/prevails
• वर्तते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दुःख-दः: pain-giving
• दुःख-दः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (दुःखं ददाति इति)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• हन्तव्यः: must be slain
• हन्तव्यः: Vidhyartha-visheshana (विध्यर्थ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हन् (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (तव्यत्) विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अर्थे—‘हन्तुं योग्यः’ (to be killed)

• सर्वथा: by all means
• सर्वथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/निश्चयवाचक (in every way/at all costs)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• अत्र: here/in this matter
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: here/in this matter)

• कार्या: to be done/necessary
• कार्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विचारणा)

• विचारणा: deliberation/consideration
• विचारणा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

An authoritative advisor/minister addressing the king (narrative voice within Śatarudrasaṃhitā, as relayed by Sūta to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Guru
• King

FAQs

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

It underscores the grave karmic weight of violating the guru’s instruction: when ego turns sacred guidance into suffering, dharma demands firm correction to restore order.

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

Saguna Shiva is upheld as the guardian of dharma; this verse reflects the puranic theme that Shiva’s order protects the sanctity of guru-paramparā and righteous conduct, which are foundational to worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is guru-smaraṇa and self-restraint: repeat the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with repentance and vow-keeping, aligning one’s actions with dharma and the guru’s guidance.