Shloka 4

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

तां दृष्ट्वा मुनिशार्दूलस्तेपे स सुचिरं तपः । बध्वासनं दृढं मौनी प्राणानायम्य शुद्धधीः

Transliteration

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā muniśārdūlastepe sa suciraṃ tapaḥ | badhvāsanaṃ dṛḍhaṃ maunī prāṇānāyamya śuddhadhīḥ

Translation

Having seen her, that tiger among sages undertook austerity for a long time. Establishing a firm posture, observing sacred silence, and regulating the life-breath through prāṇāyāma, he remained of purified understanding—steadfastly intent on Śiva-realization.

Word by Word

• ताम्: her/that (f.)
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having seen’

• मुनिशार्दूलः: the tiger among sages
• मुनिशार्दूलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनिषु शार्दूलः = ‘tiger among sages’)

• तेपे: performed austerity
• तेपे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

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

• सुचिरम्: for a very long time
• सुचिरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-चिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘तपः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्; कर्मधारयः (सु + चिर)

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियायाः कर्म

• बध्वा: having fixed
• बध्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having bound/fixed’

• आसनम्: seat/posture
• आसनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृढम्: firm
• दृढम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘आसनम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• मौनी: the silent sage
• मौनी: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषणवत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मौनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘one observing silence’

• प्राणान्: breaths/vital airs
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• आयम्य: having restrained
• आयम्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+√यम् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having restrained’

• शुद्धधीः: one of pure intellect
• शुद्धधीः: Karta (कर्ता) (विशेषणवत्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (शुद्धा धीः यस्य)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Sṛṣṭi narrative)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It presents tapas-yoga as inner purification: firm posture, silence, and prāṇāyāma steady the mind and cleanse the intellect, making the seeker fit to turn toward Pati (Śiva) and transcend bondage (pāśa).

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

Even when the narrative begins from seeing a form (saguṇa), the response is disciplined sādhanā—stilling speech and breath—so devotion matures into inward contemplation, the basis for Linga-dhyāna and one-pointed Śiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A yogic regimen: sit in a steady āsana, observe mauna, and practice prāṇāyāma; this can be paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as a Shaiva meditative discipline.