Shloka 37

अध्याय ४९ — विवाहानुष्ठाने ब्रह्मणः काममोहः

Brahmā’s Enchantment by Desire during the Wedding Rites

Devanagari script

ईश्वरेच्छाप्रयुक्तेन प्रोक्तास्ते नारदेन हि । वालखिल्यास्तु ते तत्र कोपयुक्तेन चेतसा

Transliteration

īśvarecchāprayuktena proktāste nāradena hi | vālakhilyāstu te tatra kopayuktena cetasā

Translation

Indeed, those words were spoken by Nārada, impelled by the will of Īśvara (Lord Śiva). But the Vālakhilya sages there, their minds seized by anger, reacted in wrath.

Word by Word

• īśvara-icchā-prayuktena: impelled by the Lord’s will
• īśvara-icchā-prayuktena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: īśvara (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक) + prayukta (कृदन्त, √yuj प्र- + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular, masculine); कृदन्त-विशेषणम् (past passive participle)

• proktāḥ: were spoken/told
• proktāḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prokta (कृदन्त, √vac प्र- + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, masculine); कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्तः (PPP, passive sense)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, pronoun)

• nāradena: by Nārada
• nāradena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), अवधानार्थ/हेतौ (indeed/for)

• vālakhilyāḥ: the Vālakhilyas
• vālakhilyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vālakhilya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural)

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ (but/indeed)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-बहुवचनम् (Nominative plural, pronoun)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्ययम् (locative adverb: there)

• kopa-yuktena: with anger-attached
• kopa-yuktena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kopa (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त, √yuj + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular, neuter); कृदन्त-विशेषणम्

• cetasā: with (their) mind
• cetasā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cetas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे तृतीया-एकवचनम् (Instrumental singular, neuter)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Ishana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga; the verse emphasizes īśvarecchā (divine will) operating through Nārada, while the sages’ kopa (anger) shows the binding force of mala/karma—bondage manifesting as reactive emotion.

Significance: Teaches discernment: even exalted tapasvins can be veiled by kopa; pilgrimage value lies in cultivating kṣamā and receptivity to īśvara-icchā.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Narada
• Valakhilya sages

FAQs

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

It frames the episode as guided by Īśvara’s will, while showing how anger (kopa) clouds discernment—urging the seeker to align the mind with Śiva’s icchā-śakti rather than reactive emotion.

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

By emphasizing Īśvara’s will directing the narrative, it supports Saguna Śiva devotion: the Lord actively governs events, and the devotee’s task is to surrender ego and anger through worship and remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate kṣānti (forbearance) and japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to pacify kopa and attune the mind to Śiva’s will; applying bhasma (tripuṇḍra) can be taken as a daily reminder of inner restraint.