Shloka 35

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

शास्तिस्मेत्थञ्च बहुशो रुद्रस्सूतिकरः प्रभुः । नारदो न हितं मेने शिवमायाविमोहितः

Transliteration

śāstismetthañca bahuśo rudrassūtikaraḥ prabhuḥ | nārado na hitaṃ mene śivamāyāvimohitaḥ

Translation

“Thus the Lord—Rudra, the sovereign cause of creation—reprimanded him again and again. But Nārada, bewildered by Śiva’s māyā, did not accept what was truly beneficial.”

Word by Word

• शास्ति: instructs / commands
• शास्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śās (शास् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed / (then)
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्म-निपात (past/continuative particle)

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• बहुशः: many times
• बहुशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahuśaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आवृत्तिवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of frequency)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सूतिः-करः: producer of creation/birth
• सूतिः-करः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūti (सूति प्रातिपदिक) + kara (कर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘सूतिं करोति’ (one who causes/produces birth)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhu (प्रभु प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• हितम्: benefit / good
• हितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (हित प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मेने: thought / considered
• मेने: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (मन् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• शिव-माया-विमोहितः: deluded by Śiva’s illusion
• शिव-माया-विमोहितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + vi-mohita (मुह् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः ‘शिवस्य मायया विमोहितः’ (deluded by Śiva’s māyā)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Rudra (Shiva)
• Narada
• Shiva Maya

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a great sage can miss true welfare (hita) when veiled by Śiva’s māyā; liberation arises by accepting the Lord’s corrective guidance and turning from ego-driven notions to Śiva-centered discernment.

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

Rudra is shown as the sovereign guide who corrects and uplifts; devotion to Saguna Śiva—especially through Linga worship—trains the mind to receive Śiva’s instruction and pierce māyā through steady bhakti and reverence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and receptivity through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and daily Śiva-smaraṇa; these practices counter māyā’s confusion and align the seeker with what is truly hita.