Shloka 14

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

इत्याज्ञप्तो महेन्द्रेण स कामस्समधु प्रियः । जगाम तत्स्थलं गर्वादुपायं स्वञ्चकार ह

Transliteration

ityājñapto mahendreṇa sa kāmassamadhu priyaḥ | jagāma tatsthalaṃ garvādupāyaṃ svañcakāra ha

Translation

Thus commanded by Mahendra (Indra), Kāma—fond of spring and intoxicated honey—went to that very place. Out of pride, he devised his own stratagem there.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-उद्धरण/समाप्तिसूचक

• ājñaptaḥ: having been ordered
• ājñaptaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ā-√jñap (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘commanded/ordered’

• mahā-indreṇa: by Mahendra (great Indra)
• mahā-indreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् इन्द्रः’

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• kāmaḥ: Kāma (the god of desire)
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sa-madhu: together with Madhu
• sa-madhu: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय/उपसर्गसदृश) + madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘मधुना सह’ (with Madhu / accompanied by Madhu)

• priyaḥ: dear/pleasing
• priyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: gam (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• tat-sthalam: to that place
• tat-sthalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘तत् स्थलम्’ (that place)

• garvāt: out of pride
• garvāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: garva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• upāyam: a means/plan
• upāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• svam: his own
• svam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• cakāra: made/devised
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ha: indeed (particle)
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पदपूरण/स्मरणार्थक (expletive particle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how kāma (desire), propelled by garva (ego/pride), tries to impose its power—yet in Shaiva understanding, such forces cannot subdue the supreme Lord (Pati) and become obstacles for the bound soul (paśu) seeking liberation.

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

Kāma’s approach represents outward, sense-driven influence, whereas Linga/Saguna Shiva worship trains the mind toward devotion and inner restraint—redirecting desire into bhakti so it becomes a purifying force rather than a binding one.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter pride and desire with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined worship (pūjā with bhasma/Tripuṇḍra), cultivating humility and steadiness of mind.