Shloka 6

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

इत्थं तपति तस्मिन्वै नारदे मुनिसत्तमे । चकंपेऽथ शुनासीरो मनस्संतापविह्वलः

Transliteration

itthaṃ tapati tasminvai nārade munisattame | cakaṃpe'tha śunāsīro manassaṃtāpavihvalaḥ

Translation

While that supreme sage Nārada was performing such austerities, Śunāsīra (Indra) then began to tremble, overwhelmed by the burning distress in his mind.

Word by Word

• इत्थम्: thus
• इत्थम्: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (manner adverb: thus/in this way)

• तपति: performs austerity / burns
• तपति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √तप् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• तस्मिन्: in him/at that time
• तस्मिन्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in him/when he’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• नारदे: in/when Nārada
• नारदे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; ‘in/with respect to Nārada’

• मुनिसत्तमे: (in) the best of sages
• मुनिसत्तमे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मुनिषु सत्तमः = best among sages)

• चकम्पे: trembled
• चकम्पे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरवाचक-अव्यय (then/now)

• शुनासीरः: Śunāsīra (Indra)
• शुनासीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुनासीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्द्रस्य नाम

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता) (समासे पूर्वपदम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• संतापविह्वलः: distressed by mental anguish
• संतापविह्वलः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संताप-विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (संतापेन विह्वलः = distressed by anguish)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Indra (Śunāsīra)

FAQs

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

It shows the power of tapas (disciplined inner fire): when a sage becomes steady in austerity, worldly authority and celestial pride become shaken—highlighting that spiritual intensity surpasses status and control.

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

Though the Linga is not named here, the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa context frames tapas as a Shaiva path that culminates in grace: sincere austerity purifies the mind and prepares the devotee for Saguna Shiva’s blessings and the deeper realization of Shiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is steadiness in tapas—daily japa of the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with disciplined conduct; if following Shaiva ritual, support it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and focused meditation to calm manas-santāpa (mental burning).