Shloka 20

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

कंचित्समयमासाद्य जीविष्यति सुराः स्मरः । परं त्विह स्मरोपायश्चरिष्यति न कश्चन

Transliteration

kaṃcitsamayamāsādya jīviṣyati surāḥ smaraḥ | paraṃ tviha smaropāyaścariṣyati na kaścana

Translation

„Nach einiger Zeit, o Götter, wird Kāma (Smara) wieder leben. Doch hier und jetzt wird niemand irgendein Mittel ergreifen, ihn zu beleben.“

Word by Word

• कञ्चित्: some
• कञ्चित्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-विशेषण (indefinite)

• समयम्: time/period
• समयम्: Karma/Object (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आसाद्य: having reached/after attaining
• आसाद्य: Purvakala/Kriyavisheshaṇa (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• जीविष्यति: will live
• जीविष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सुराः: O gods
• सुराः: Sambodhana/Address (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्मरः: Kāma (Smara)
• स्मरः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• परम्: however/but
• परम्: Discourse marker (निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (adverbial accusative used as particle)

• तु: but
• तु: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (concessive/contrastive particle)

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikarana/Location (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• स्मर-उपायः: means/strategy for Kāma
• स्मर-उपायः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: स्मरस्य उपायः)

• चरिष्यति: will proceed/occur
• चरिष्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future/लृट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• कश्चन: anyone/anything (at all)
• कश्चन: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

Speaker

Brahma (narrating to the Devas within the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa context, as relayed by Suta Goswami)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The Lord’s decree postpones immediate restoration—typical of kṣetra narratives where divine timing (kāla-niyati) is emphasized over human/deva impatience.

Significance: Teaches niyama and patience in sādhana: outcomes unfold by īśvara-kāla; discourages ‘quick fixes’ for desire and mental agitation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Smara (Kama)
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s supremacy over kama (desire): even if desire returns in due course, the immediate spiritual priority is not to “restore” passion but to abide in restraint and devotion, aligning the mind toward Shiva as Pati (Lord) rather than being driven by pasha (bondage).

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

In the narrative atmosphere where Shiva’s tapas and detachment are central, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upasana) as a stabilizing focus that sublimates desire—turning the same inner energy toward bhakti and dhyana rather than outward craving.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is vairagya supported by Shiva-upasana—steady japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and meditative recollection of Shiva’s dispassion; practices like bhasma-dharana and rudraksha are supportive where traditionally prescribed.