Shloka 3

Śiva’s Narasiṃha-Stotra and the Pacification of the Mātṛgaṇas

Devanagari script

शङ्करौवाच / भवतीभिः प्रजाः सर्वा रक्षणीया न संशयः / तस्माड्वोरतरप्रायं मनः शीघ्रं निवर्त्यताम्

Transliteration

śaṅkarauvāca / bhavatībhiḥ prajāḥ sarvā rakṣaṇīyā na saṃśayaḥ / tasmāḍvorataraprāyaṃ manaḥ śīghraṃ nivartyatām

Translation

Śaṅkara disse: “Todas as criaturas devem ser por vós protegidas—não há dúvida disso. Portanto, afastai depressa a mente do caminho que tende a devorar e a destruir.”

Word by Word

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (Speaker)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदी

• भवतीभिः: by you (ladies)
• भवतीभिः: Karana (Instrument/Agent group)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवती (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रयोग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन; आदरार्थे ‘you (ladies)’

• प्रजाः: creatures/subjects
• प्रजाः: Karma (Object of protection)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier of प्रजाः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• रक्षणीयाः: must be protected
• रक्षणीयाः: Kriya (Predicate necessity)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (अनीयर्/gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण ‘to be protected’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (Therefore/from that)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• वः: for you
• वः: Sampradana/Sambandha (to/for you)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-एकवचन-बहुवचन-रूप (Genitive/Dative enclitic), बहुवचनार्थे; ‘of you/to you’

• अतरप्रायम्: inclined toward the wrong/other course
• अतरप्रायम्: Visheshana (Qualifier of मनः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘अतरं प्रायम्’ (= inclined to the other/evil course)

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karma (Object to be turned back)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘quickly’

• निवर्त्यताम्: let it be turned back/withdrawn
• निवर्त्यताम्: Kriya (Injunctive/command)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी/कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive imperative) ‘let it be turned back’

Speaker

Shankara (Lord Shiva)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The duty of powerful protectors is rakṣaṇa (protection), not consumption; immediate turning away from destructive inclination is required.

Vedantic Theme: Loka-saṅgraha and niyama; mastery over mind (manonigraha) as prerequisite for righteous action.

Application: Practice rapid interruption of harmful impulses; adopt vows/roles centered on protection (caregiving, service); use discernment before acting.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.231.4 (disregard of this counsel and ensuing devouring)

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)
• Prajah (all beings/creatures)

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting prajāḥ (all beings) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames protection of all creatures as a clear dharmic duty, urging guardianship and non-harm as foundational conduct.

How does this verse relate to karma and the consequences of violence?

By instructing the mind to withdraw from voracious, harmful impulses, it implies that हिंसा-driven actions are adharma and lead to negative karmic results.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice restraint and compassion: avoid harming others for gain, protect dependents and the vulnerable, and consciously redirect destructive impulses.