Shloka 22

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

इति शंभूक्तितः कामो मिथ्यात्मगतिकस्तदा । नारदे स जगामाशु दिवमिन्द्रसमीपतः

Transliteration

iti śaṃbhūktitaḥ kāmo mithyātmagatikastadā | nārade sa jagāmāśu divamindrasamīpataḥ

Translation

Thus, by Śambhu’s utterance, Kāma—whose very course is illusory and self-deceptive—then quickly departed from Nārada and went to heaven, to the vicinity of Indra.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Discourse marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• शंभूक्तितः: from Śambhu's utterance/words
• शंभूक्तितः: Hetu/Source (अपादान/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक) + उक्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'from/according to the statement')

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

• मिथ्या-आत्म-गतिकः: whose self-course was futile/false
• मिथ्या-आत्म-गतिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिथ्या (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + गतिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (यस्य आत्मगति: मिथ्या सः)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kala/Time (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• नारदे: to/at Nārada (in Nārada's presence)
• नारदे: Adhikarana/Location (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणे (locative)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriyavisheshaṇa/Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• दिवम्: to heaven
• दिवम्: Karma/Goal (कर्म/गन्तव्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्/द्यौ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (द्यौः-शब्दस्य), द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'स्वर्गम्' अर्थे

• इन्द्र-समीपतः: near Indra
• इन्द्र-समीपतः: Adhikarana/Location (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + समीप (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival/locatival adverbial: 'near/from near'); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रस्य समीपः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kāma’s ‘illusory course’ is emphasized as he departs toward Indra’s realm—often read as a warning that desire migrates to receptive domains when checked in a sanctified space.

Significance: Encourages vigilance: kāma is mithyā-gati—deceptive and shifting; devotees cultivate viveka and seek Śiva’s protection to keep the mind from wandering.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama
• Narada
• Indra

FAQs

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

The verse frames Kāma (desire) as “mithyā”—a deceptive movement that cannot lead to liberation; Śiva’s word redirects the flow of events, implying that only Pati (Śiva) can truly guide beings beyond bondage.

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

It highlights the supremacy of Śiva’s śakti and command in the cosmic order; in Saguna worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā), the devotee seeks Śiva’s grace to master desire and transcend worldly impulses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is desire-discipline through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivating vairāgya, supported by Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness.