Shloka 14

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

प्रदानसमयं प्राप्ता वरमन्वेषती शुभम् । सा स्वयंवरसंप्राप्ता सर्वलक्षणलक्षिता

Transliteration

pradānasamayaṃ prāptā varamanveṣatī śubham | sā svayaṃvarasaṃprāptā sarvalakṣaṇalakṣitā

Translation

When the time came to give her in marriage, she sought an auspicious bridegroom. Endowed with every noble mark and excellence, she came to the svayaṃvara, to choose her husband for herself.

Word by Word

• pradāna-samayam: the time of giving (in marriage)
• pradāna-samayam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण) (time-accusative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradāna (प्रातिपदिक) + samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: ‘pradānasya samayaḥ’); Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• prāptā: having reached, arrived
• prāptā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘sā’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāpta (कृदन्त; √āp (आप्) with pra-, past participle)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• varam: a bridegroom
• varam: Karma (कर्म) (object of ‘anveṣatī’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• anveṣatī: seeking
• anveṣatī: Karta (कर्ता) (agent as participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √iṣ (इष्) with anu- (अन्वेष्) (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ/शतृन्त), Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Parasmaipada sense

• śubham: auspicious, excellent
• śubham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘varam’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śubha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used as adjective to ‘varam’

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• svayaṃvara-saṃprāptā: having come to the svayaṃvara
• svayaṃvara-saṃprāptā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘sā’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svayaṃvara (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃprāpta (कृदन्त; √āp (आप्) with sam-, past participle)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (locative/goal sense: ‘svayaṃvare saṃprāptā’); saṃprāpta = PPP (क्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• sarva-lakṣaṇa-lakṣitā: marked with all auspicious signs
• sarva-lakṣaṇa-lakṣitā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of ‘sā’
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣita (कृदन्त; √lakṣ (लक्ष्) past participle)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) (instrumental sense: ‘sarvaiḥ lakṣaṇaiḥ lakṣitā’); lakṣita = PPP (क्त); Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative flow)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

It presents dharmic readiness and auspicious discernment: at the proper time, one seeks what is śubha (spiritually and ethically fitting). In a Shaiva lens, outer life-stages are to be aligned with inner purity and right choice, supporting steadiness on the path toward Shiva’s grace.

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

Though not explicitly about Linga worship, the theme of choosing the ‘auspicious’ mirrors Shaiva practice: devotees approach Saguna Shiva (Shiva with attributes) as the supreme śubha, and all righteous choices culminate in orienting life toward Shiva’s protection and blessing.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies acting at the right time with śubha-saṅkalpa (pure intention). A practical Shaiva takeaway is to begin major life decisions with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a simple Tripuṇḍra/Bhasma application as a reminder to seek what is truly auspicious.