yathā buddhiḥ śuktau rajatamiti kācāśmani maṇi-rjale paiṣṭe kṣīraṃ bhavati mṛgatṛṣṇāsu salilam ;tathā devabhrāntyā bhajati bhavadanyaṃ jaḍajanomahādeveśaṃ tvāṃ manasi ca na matvā paśupate . 8 .
ŚLOKA 8 / 100
Recognizing mistaken appearances
About these study notes: English meanings and explanations were generated with AI assistance and have not been independently reviewed by a Sanskrit scholar. Sanskrit text follows the cited source editions.
02 / PHRASE STUDY · PADĀRTHA
A phrase at a time.
Follow the words into meaning. Select a phrase to locate it in the verse above. Read the quarters together for the full sentence.
Sringeri IAST text · source wording and line-break hyphens retained. English glosses follow the connected Sanskrit sense.
Vignanam text · spellings and hyphens retained. English glosses follow the base Sanskrit; variant readings are not separately translated.
| Selected phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
As the mind mistakes a shell for silver or a piece of glass for a gem. | |
As flour mixed with water appears to be milk, or a mirage to be water. | |
So a confused person worships something other than you under a mistaken notion of divinity. | |
Failing to hold you, the great Lord, in mind, O Paśupati. |
These four study units follow the printed quarters. Sentences and compounds can continue across a line break; read the whole verse for connected meaning. The source wording stays unchanged.
| Selected phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
As the mind mistakes a shell for silver or a piece of glass for a gem. Key expressions in this quarter: śukti — shell; rajata — silver; maṇi — gem. | |
As flour mixed with water appears to be milk, or a mirage to be water. Key expressions in this quarter: kṣīra — milk; mṛgatṛṣṇā — mirage. | |
So a confused person worships something other than you under a mistaken notion of divinity. Key expressions in this quarter: bhrānti — mistaken apprehension; jaḍajana — uncomprehending person. | |
Failing to hold you, the great Lord, in mind, O Paśupati. Key expressions in this quarter: manas — mind. |
Selected words and compound parts are shown in IAST. This is a contextual vocabulary study, not an exhaustive grammatical analysis. The source phrase follows your selected script. Locate highlights that unchanged phrase; learning forms are not substituted into the verse.
| Word / source phrase | Meaning in context |
|---|---|
shell | |
silver | |
gem | |
milk | |
mirage | |
mistaken apprehension | |
uncomprehending person | |
mind |
03 / SIMPLE MEANING
Recognizing mistaken appearances
As the mind mistakes a shell for silver or a piece of glass for a gem. As flour mixed with water appears to be milk, or a mirage to be water. So a confused person worships something other than you under a mistaken notion of divinity. Failing to hold you, the great Lord, in mind, O Paśupati.
04 / DETAILED MEANING
How the verse unfolds.
Several ordinary errors make the structure of misrecognition vivid. In this devotional setting, the poet applies the analogy to failing to recognize Shiva as the sought reality. The images ask the reader to examine appearances rather than merely trust the first impression.
EDITORIAL EXPLANATION · NOT A TRADITIONAL COMMENTARY
05 / DEEPER CONTEMPLATION
What attractive appearance do I too quickly mistake for what I seek?
Read this verse once more, then sit with the question. Notice the particular image or expression that holds your attention. You do not need to force an answer.
Keep a reflection or question ↓06 / THEMES & TATTVA
Connected themes
Editorial lenses; a verse may invite other readings.
Associated Tattva
Knowledge and recognition
Shell mistaken for silver and a mirage mistaken for water illustrate misrecognition. The poet applies that pattern to failing to recognize the presence being sought.
Explore this Tattva →07 / PERSONAL REFLECTION
A phrase, a question, a moment of understanding
What attractive appearance do I too quickly mistake for what I seek?
Browser notes stay on this device. Account reflections remain separate unless you explicitly import them.
Telugu source variants
[మణిః జలే]