Shloka 23

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

आचख्यौ सर्ववृत्तांतं प्रभावं च मुनेः स्मरः । तदाज्ञया ययौ स्थानं स्वकीयं स मधुप्रियः

Transliteration

ācakhyau sarvavṛttāṃtaṃ prabhāvaṃ ca muneḥ smaraḥ | tadājñayā yayau sthānaṃ svakīyaṃ sa madhupriyaḥ

Translation

Smara (Kāma) narrated the entire account and also described the sage’s spiritual power. Then, by that sage’s command, Madhupriya departed for his own abode.

Word by Word

• आचख्यौ: told, narrated
• आचख्यौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-चक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• सर्व-वृत्तान्तम्: the whole account
• सर्व-वृत्तान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

• प्रभावम्: the power, influence
• प्रभावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• स्मरः: Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तत्-आज्ञया: by that command
• तत्-आज्ञया: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-विशेषणयुक्तम्

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्थानम्: to the place
• स्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• स्वकीयम्: his own
• स्वकीयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वकीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying) स्थानम्

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

• मधु-प्रियः: Madhupriya (name/epithet)
• मधु-प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (determinative)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Smara (Kama)
• a Muni (sage)
• Madhupriya

FAQs

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

It highlights that true spiritual authority lies in realized tapas and Shiva-aligned wisdom: even forces like Smara must acknowledge a muni’s prabhāva, and rightful action is taken by obedience to dharmic command rather than impulse.

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

By emphasizing the muni’s spiritual potency, the verse supports the Shaiva principle that devotion and discipline oriented to Shiva (often expressed through Linga worship and mantra) generate prabhāva that governs and purifies desire, rather than being governed by it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is restraint and obedience to guru-like instruction—supported by Shaiva sadhana such as japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined vrata, which cultivate the prabhāva praised here.