Shloka 8

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

सस्मार स्मरं शक्रश्चेतसा देवनायकः । आजगाम द्रुतं कामस्समधीर्महिषीसुतः

Transliteration

sasmāra smaraṃ śakraścetasā devanāyakaḥ | ājagāma drutaṃ kāmassamadhīrmahiṣīsutaḥ

Translation

إندرا، سيدُ الآلهة وقائدُهم، استحضر في قلبه سْمَرا (كاما). فبادر كاما—سريعًا ثابتَ العزم، ابنَ الملكة—فأتى إلى هناك على عَجَل.

Word by Word

• sasmāra: remembered
• sasmāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (स्मृ, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘remembered’

• smaram: Kāma (Smara)
• smaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• śakraḥ: Indra (Śakra)
• śakraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• cetasā: with (his) mind
• cetasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• deva-nāyakaḥ: leader of the gods
• deva-nāyakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; तत्पुरुषः (देवानां नायकः)

• ājagāma: came
• ājagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+gam (गम्, धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘came’

• drutam: quickly
• drutam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: druta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative); ‘quickly’

• kāmaḥ: Kāma
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• samadhīḥ: Samadhī (name/epithet)
• samadhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samadhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular (proper epithet/name)

• mahiṣī-sutaḥ: son of the queen
• mahiṣī-sutaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahiṣī (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; तत्पुरुषः (महिṣ्याः सुतः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Shakra)
• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how mental intention (cetas) can immediately activate desire (Kāma). In a Shaiva Siddhanta reading, desire is a form of pāśa (bondage) that can swiftly arise and drive action unless restrained by devotion, discernment, and Shiva-oriented discipline.

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

By showing the quick mobilization of Kāma, the text sets the contrast with Saguna Shiva worship: the Linga and Shiva-bhakti cultivate inner steadiness and purity so that the mind does not become ruled by desire, but is redirected toward Shiva as Pati (the Lord who frees the bound soul).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mind-discipline through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and adopting Shaiva purity practices such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, which support restraint of kama and steadiness in worship.