Shloka 41

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

नारदोऽथ ययौ शीघ्रं विष्णुलोकं विनष्टधीः । मदांकुरमना वृत्तं गदितुं स्वं तदग्रतः

Transliteration

nārado'tha yayau śīghraṃ viṣṇulokaṃ vinaṣṭadhīḥ | madāṃkuramanā vṛttaṃ gadituṃ svaṃ tadagrataḥ

Translation

Daraufhin eilte Nārada, dessen Unterscheidungskraft getrübt war, rasch in Viṣṇus Welt. Mit einem Geist, in dem der Spross des Hochmuts aufging, wollte er vor Viṣṇu sein eigenes Erlebnis berichten.

Word by Word

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अन्वय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (particle: then)

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसक-द्वितीया-एकवचन (adverbial accusative)

• विष्णु-लोकम्: to Viṣṇu’s world
• विष्णु-लोकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः लोकः)

• विनष्ट-धीः: with ruined judgment
• विनष्ट-धीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विनष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य धीः विनष्टा सः (‘one whose understanding is ruined’)

• मद-अङ्कुर-मनाḥ: whose mind had a sprout of pride
• मद-अङ्कुर-मनाḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य मनः मद-अङ्कुरयुक्तम् (‘whose mind has a sprout of pride’)

• वृत्तम्: the event/occurrence
• वृत्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गदितुम्: to tell
• गदितुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (Infinitive), ‘to tell/say’

• स्वम्: his own
• स्वम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; वृत्तम्-विशेषणम् (‘his own’)

• तत्-अग्रतः: before him
• तत्-अग्रतः: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम) + अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (in front of him/that)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It highlights how mada (pride) can obscure dhi (spiritual discernment), becoming a bondage (pāśa) that diverts even a divine sage from humility—an obstacle on the path to Shiva-realization.

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

Though the verse narrates Nārada’s movement toward Viṣṇu, the Shaiva teaching is that true worship—whether of the Liṅga or Saguna Shiva—must be grounded in humility and surrender; pride corrupts devotion and blocks grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter pride with daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a humility-focused self-inquiry before worship, offering all ‘achievements’ mentally at Shiva’s feet.