Shloka 52

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

विकारास्तस्य सद्यो वै भवंत्यखिलदुःखदाः । नैष्ठिको ब्रह्मचारी त्वं ज्ञानवैराग्यवान्सदा

Transliteration

vikārāstasya sadyo vai bhavaṃtyakhiladuḥkhadāḥ | naiṣṭhiko brahmacārī tvaṃ jñānavairāgyavānsadā

Translation

For him, the mind’s distortions arise at once and become the givers of every sorrow. But you are a steadfast lifelong brahmacārin, ever endowed with true knowledge and dispassion.

Word by Word

• vikārāḥ: modifications, changes
• vikārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural)

• tasya: of him/its
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (Singular)

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle/Emphasis)

• bhavanti: become, arise
• bhavanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), परस्मैपद

• akhila-duḥkha-dāḥ: giving all sorrow; causing every pain
• akhila-duḥkha-dāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक) + duḥkha (प्रातिपदिक) + da (दा धातु/दातृ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (Plural); समासः—तत्पुरुष (निर्देश/उपपद-तत्पुरुष): ‘अखिलं दुःखं ददाति’ इति

• naiṣṭhikaḥ: steadfast, firmly vowed
• naiṣṭhikaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naiṣṭhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• brahmacārī: brahmacārin; celibate student
• brahmacārī: Karta (कर्ता) / Sambodhyārtha (predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahmacārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tvam: you
• tvam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• jñāna-vairāgya-vān: possessed of knowledge and dispassion
• jñāna-vairāgya-vān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + -vant (वन्-प्रत्यय, तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (द्वन्द्वार्थ-समाहार/समुच्चय-भाव): ‘ज्ञानं च वैराग्यं च’ इत्यस्य ‘ज्ञानवैराग्य’ + वन् (possessive)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Adverb)

Speaker

Brahma (in the Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa creation dialogue, instructing a celibate sage such as Nārada/Sanatkumāra-type figure)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that uncontrolled mental modifications (vikāras) instantly generate suffering, while steadfast brahmacarya supported by knowledge (jñāna) and dispassion (vairāgya) stabilizes the seeker and prepares the soul for Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not merely external; it is meant to purify the inner instrument (antaḥkaraṇa). By reducing vikāras through discipline, the devotee becomes fit for focused devotion to Saguna Shiva and for realizing Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond sorrow.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is brahmacarya with daily mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), steady meditation to restrain vikāras, and simple purity-observances (such as sacred ash/Tripuṇḍra where traditional) to support vairāgya.