Shloka 45
नारदतपोवर्णनम्
Nārada’s Austerities Described
विष्णुवाक्यमिति श्रुत्वा नारदो गर्वितो मुनिः । स्ववृत्तं सर्वमाचष्ट समदं मदमोहितः
viṣṇuvākyamiti śrutvā nārado garvito muniḥ | svavṛttaṃ sarvamācaṣṭa samadaṃ madamohitaḥ
Hearing those words of Viṣṇu, the sage Nārada—swollen with pride—recounted his entire conduct, deluded by intoxication and arrogance.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It highlights how mada (egoic pride) and moha (delusion) distort even a sage’s perception, becoming a pasha (bond) that veils clear discernment and delays true Shiva-oriented liberation.
Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship trains humility, surrender, and inner purification; this verse shows the opposite tendency—self-importance—implying that devotion must be free from ego for Shiva’s grace to bear fruit.
Cultivate humility through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with self-examination; supporting practices like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa are traditionally used to steady the mind and reduce ego-driven agitation.