Shloka 47

Arjuna–Gaṇa Saṃvāda: Bāṇādhikāra, Tāpasa-veṣa, and the Ethics of Tapas (अर्जुन-गणसंवादः)

Devanagari script

सिंहश्चैव शृगालाद्वा भीतो नैव मया श्रुतः । तथा वनेचराद्राजा न बिभेति कदाचन

Transliteration

siṃhaścaiva śṛgālādvā bhīto naiva mayā śrutaḥ | tathā vanecarādrājā na bibheti kadācana

Translation

میں نے کبھی نہیں سنا کہ شیر گیدڑ سے ڈرتا ہو۔ اسی طرح جنگل کے باسیوں کا بادشاہ کبھی بھی خوف زدہ نہیں ہوتا۔

Word by Word

• सिंहः: a lion
• सिंहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता)

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphasis)

• शृगालात्: from a jackal
• शृगालात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृगाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान)

• वा: or
• वा: Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• भीतः: afraid
• भीतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भी (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle, active sense), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा विभक्ति; (agreeing with सिंहः)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (negation)

• एव: at all/indeed
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन, तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण)

• श्रुतः: heard
• श्रुतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा विभक्ति; (impersonal: ‘has been heard’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Prakara (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘likewise’

• वनेचरात्: from a forest-dweller
• वनेचरात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनेचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/अपादान)

• राजा: a king
• राजा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन, प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता)

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• बिभेति: fears
• बिभेति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कदाचन: ever
• कदाचन: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb) ‘ever/at any time’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Shatarudra Samhita’s discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches that true spiritual power is fearlessness: one grounded in the highest Reality (Pati—Lord Shiva) remains unmoved by lesser, worldly disturbances, just as a lion is not intimidated by a jackal.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva-bhakti cultivate steadfastness (dhairya) and refuge in the Supreme Lord; the devotee learns to see worldly threats as ‘lesser’ and to rest in Shiva’s protecting grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with calm breath and a focused mind is the practical takeaway—training the heart to remain fearless and centered in Shiva.