Shloka 36

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

प्रबला भाविनी कर्म गतिर्ज्ञेया विचक्षणैः । न निवार्या जनैः कैश्चिदपीच्छा सैव शांकरी

Transliteration

prabalā bhāvinī karma gatirjñeyā vicakṣaṇaiḥ | na nivāryā janaiḥ kaiścidapīcchā saiva śāṃkarī

Translation

The wise should know that the course of karma is mighty and unfailingly yields its fruit. No being can hinder it in any way, for that irresistible will itself is Śāṅkarī—the divine ordinance of Śiva.

Word by Word

• prabalā: strong, powerful
• prabalā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prabala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• bhāvinī: inevitable; destined to occur
• bhāvinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhāvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• karma: action; fate (karma)
• karma: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• gatiḥ: course; movement; outcome
• gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jñeyā: to be known
• jñeyā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñā (धातु) + ya (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive/कृत्य), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘ज्ञेया’ = ‘to be known’

• vicakṣaṇaiḥ: by the discerning (people)
• vicakṣaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negative particle)

• nivāryā: to be prevented
• nivāryā: Vidheyaviśeṣaṇa (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ni-√vṛ (धातु) + ṇyat (कृत्)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (Gerundive), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘to be prevented/checked’

• janaiḥ: by people
• janaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• kaiścit: by some (persons)
• kaiścit: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रयोग (indefinite) = ‘by some’

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-अव्यय (particle: even/also)

• icchā: desire; will
• icchā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: icchā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• sā: that (she/it)
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• eva: indeed; alone
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• śāṃkarī: of Śaṅkara; Śaṅkara’s (power/will)
• śāṃkarī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śāṃkarī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शंकरस्य/शंकरसम्बन्धिनी’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that karmic fruition is not random: the moral law is divinely upheld. In Shaiva understanding, karma operates under Śiva’s sovereignty, so spiritual maturity includes accepting responsibility and seeking Śiva’s grace to transcend bondage.

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

By identifying the irresistible governing will as “Śāṅkarī,” the verse points devotees to Saguna Śiva (worshipped as the Liṅga) as the Lord who administers cosmic order. Liṅga-worship aligns the devotee with that divine ordinance and turns one toward liberation rather than further karmic entanglement.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with a surrendering attitude (śaraṇāgati), accepting karmic outcomes while dedicating actions to Śiva to purify karma.