Shloka 53

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

कथं कामविकारी स्या जन्मना विकृतस्सुधीः । इत्याद्युक्तं वचो भूरि श्रुत्वा स मुनिसत्तमः

Transliteration

kathaṃ kāmavikārī syā janmanā vikṛtassudhīḥ | ityādyuktaṃ vaco bhūri śrutvā sa munisattamaḥ

Translation

Hearing at length such words as, “How could a truly wise one be altered by desire, or be distorted by birth?”, that foremost of sages listened with keen attention.

Word by Word

• katham: how
• katham: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: katham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक-अव्यय (interrogative adverb: how)

• kāma-vikārī: one affected by desire
• kāma-vikārī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kāma + vikārin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (कामस्य विकारः यस्य)

• syāt: could be / would become
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (अस् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (sg.), परस्मैपद

• janmanā: by birth
• janmanā: Karaṇa/Hetu (करण/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: janman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instr/3rd), एकवचन (sg.)

• vikṛtaḥ: distorted, changed
• vikṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vikṛta (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (sg.); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) from √kṛ with vi-

• sudhīḥ: the wise man
• sudhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—कर्मधारय (सु + धी = उत्तमा धीः)

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इति-प्रयोग (quotative particle)

• ādi: and so on
• ādi: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg.); 'etc., beginning' (here as part of compound)

• uktam: said
• uktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन (sg.); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (said)

• vacaḥ: speech, words
• vacaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc/2nd), एकवचन (sg.)

• bhūri: much, abundant
• bhūri: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhūri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्/विशेषणरूपेण (indeclinable-like adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनस्य विशेषणम्

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): having heard

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (sg.), सर्वनाम

• muni-sattamaḥ: the best of sages
• muni-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom/1st), एकवचन (sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां सत्तमः = best among sages)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva insight that true wisdom is not essentially deformed by desire or circumstances of birth; bondage is a passing modification, while the aim is steadiness of discernment that turns toward Shiva (Pati) for liberation.

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

By questioning how desire can distort the wise, the text points to the need for anchoring the mind in Shiva’s presence; Linga worship and Saguna Shiva devotion stabilize awareness, reducing kama-driven fluctuations and orienting the seeker toward the transcendent.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namah Shivaya”) with disciplined restraint of the senses; this supports inner purity so desire does not become a ‘vikara’ that obscures devotion and discernment.