Shloka 21

दक्षस्य प्रजावृद्ध्युपायः — Dakṣa’s Means for Increasing Progeny

Devanagari script

नारद त्वं मनश्शंभोर्लोंकानन्यचरो मुने । निर्विकारो महेशानमनोवृत्तिकरस्तदा

Transliteration

nārada tvaṃ manaśśaṃbhorloṃkānanyacaro mune | nirvikāro maheśānamanovṛttikarastadā

Translation

O Nārada, O sage, you are the very mind of Śambhu (Śiva), moving through the worlds without attachment. Free from all change, you then become the one who brings forth and conveys the intention and movement of the mind of Mahēśāna (Śiva).

Word by Word

• नारद: O Nārada
• नारद: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/8th), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: कर्ता (Karta/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मनः: mind
• मनः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/possessed)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; in genitive relation with ‘शम्भोः’ (mind of Śambhu)

• शम्भोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भोः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: कर्म (Karma/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• अन्य-चरः: not wandering elsewhere / unwavering
• अन्य-चरः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष (negative): अन्यः चरः = ‘moving elsewhere’ → with negation sense ‘not moving elsewhere/without deviating’

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• निर्विकारः: unchanging / without modification
• निर्विकारः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘त्वम्’

• महेशान-मनः-वृत्ति-करः: one who carries out Maheśāna’s mental intention
• महेशान-मनः-वृत्ति-करः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महेशान (प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: महेशानस्य मनोवृत्तिं करोति/करः = ‘one who effects/causes the mental activity of Maheśāna’ (i.e., acts according to Śiva’s mind)

• तदा: then / at that time
• तदा: काल (Kāla/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating to Nārada within the Rudra Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Shiva (Śambhu/Maheśāna)

FAQs

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

The verse portrays Nārada as a purified, unattached consciousness that can reflect and transmit Śiva’s intention—indicating that spiritual purity (nirvikāratā) makes one fit to carry the Lord’s message and grace.

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

As Saguna Śiva is worshipped through form (Liṅga) and devotion, the devotee’s mind is trained to become steady and transparent; the verse highlights an ideal devotee-messenger whose inner state harmonizes with Mahēśāna’s will, which is the inner purpose of Liṅga-upāsanā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is mind-purification and steadiness through japa (especially Pañcākṣarī—Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and dhyāna on Śiva, cultivating non-attachment so the mind becomes ‘nirvikāra’ and aligned with the Lord.