Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

सगरस्स्वां प्रतिज्ञां तु गुरोर्वाक्यं निशम्य च । धर्मं जघान तेषां वै केशान्यत्वं चकार ह

Transliteration

sagarassvāṃ pratijñāṃ tu gurorvākyaṃ niśamya ca | dharmaṃ jaghāna teṣāṃ vai keśānyatvaṃ cakāra ha

Translation

Ao ouvir as palavras de seu preceptor, Sagara manteve o próprio voto e, conforme o dharma, fez com que os cabelos deles fossem transformados.

Word by Word

• सगरः: Sagara
• सगरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सगर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वाम्: his own
• स्वाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (own)

• प्रतिज्ञाम्: vow/promise
• प्रतिज्ञाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

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

• वाक्यम्: word/command
• वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निशम्य: having heard
• निशम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); उपसर्ग नि- (having heard/listened)

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

• धर्मम्: dharma/righteousness
• धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जघान: struck down/destroyed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• केशान्: hair
• केशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• यत्वम्: the state of becoming ‘ya’ (a transformation)
• यत्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक (state of being ‘ya’/a transformation)

• चकार: made/did
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• ह: indeed/for sure
• ह: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; narrative emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Sagara
• Guru (preceptor)

FAQs

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

It highlights that steadfastness in one’s vow and reverence for the guru’s instruction are expressions of dharma; such disciplined action shapes karmic outcomes and supports the soul’s gradual purification toward Shiva-realization.

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

Though not explicitly about the Linga, the verse reflects the Shaiva ethic that devotion to Shiva is sustained by dharma—truthfulness, fidelity to vows, and honoring the guru—qualities that make Linga-worship fruitful and sattvic.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to take a disciplined vrata (vow) with guidance from a competent teacher and support it with daily japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a dharmic anchor for conduct and inner restraint.