Shloka 22

The Account and Merit of Śivadūtī

with the Nāga-tīrtha at Puṣkara

Devanagari script

एतज्ज्ञात्वा यदुचितं तत्कुरुष्व पितामह । ब्रह्मोवाच । अहं रक्षां विधास्यामि भवतीनां न संशयः

Transliteration

etajjñātvā yaducitaṃ tatkuruṣva pitāmaha | brahmovāca | ahaṃ rakṣāṃ vidhāsyāmi bhavatīnāṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

एतद् ज्ञात्वा यदुचितं तत् कुरुष्व, पितामह। ब्रह्मोवाच—अहं भवतीनां रक्षां विधास्यामि; न संशयः।

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) — ‘having known’

• यत्: whatever
• यत्: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular); उचितम् इति विशेष्य

• उचितम्: proper, fitting
• उचितम्: Karma (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neut.), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• कुरुष्व: do (it)!
• कुरुष्व: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (singular); आत्मनेपद

• पितामह: O Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामह: Sambodhana (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), संबोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (singular)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (Speaker/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन्/ब्रह्मा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (Speech act)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम; प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

• रक्षाम्: protection
• रक्षाम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• विधास्यामि: I will provide/arrange
• विधास्यामि: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन (singular); परस्मैपद

• भवतीनाम्: of you (all)
• भवतीनाम्: Sambandha (Beneficiary/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम-आदरार्थ)
• Form: सर्वनाम (honorific ‘you’); षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), बहुवचन (plural)

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

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (Predicate nominal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masc.), प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Brahmā

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right authority responds to suffering with decisive protection; assurance (niścaya) restores courage in the afflicted.

Application: When responsible for others, respond with clarity and commitment; offer concrete protection rather than vague comfort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brahmā, serene yet commanding, raises a hand in a gesture of assurance as if sealing a protective vow. The frightened beings look up as the air clears, the serpentine shadows retreating beyond the edge of the scene.","primary_figures":["Brahmā (Pitāmaha)","Prajāḥ (beings)"],"setting":"Cosmic-liminal court near the lotus-seat; subtle suggestion of threatened landscape fading into calm","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm gold","lotus pink","cream white","soft teal","copper brown"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: Brahmā seated on a lotus throne with gold leaf halo, right hand in abhaya-mudrā; prajāḥ kneeling in reverence; ornate pillars and arch, rich reds and greens, gem-like detailing emphasizing the certainty ‘na saṃśayaḥ’.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: gentle Brahmā with refined faces and soft shading; prajāḥ arranged in a semicircle; pale dawn sky, delicate lotuses and calm water motifs; understated elegance conveying reassurance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: frontal Brahmā with bold outlines, large eyes, abhaya gesture; prajāḥ in symmetrical rows; saturated yellows/reds/greens, temple-wall compositional clarity and protective iconography.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central protective Brahmā on lotus with radiating aureole; surrounding floral borders and lotuses; deep blue background with gold highlights, prajāḥ as small devotional figures receiving protection."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells (gentle)","tanpura drone","soft conch (single)","calming silence"]}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: एतज्ज्ञात्वा = एतत् + ज्ञात्वा; यदुचितम् = यत् + उचितम्; तत्कुरुष्व = तत् + कुरुष्व; ब्रह्मोवाच = ब्रह्मा + उवाच.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Pitāmaha

FAQs

Who is speaking in this verse and what is the promise made?

Brahmā is speaking, promising certain protection (“I shall provide protection for you all—no doubt”).

What ethical instruction is conveyed by “do what is proper” (yad ucitam tat kuruṣva)?

It emphasizes dharmic discernment: after understanding the situation, one should act according to what is fitting and righteous.

How does this shloka fit the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa’s theological tone?

It reflects the creation-era authority of Brahmā and frames cosmic order through guidance (proper action) and guardianship (protection).