Shloka 19

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा नृपमामंत्र्य ययौ यादृच्छिको मुनिः । बभूव कामविवशश्शिवमाया विमोहितः

Transliteration

ityuktvā nṛpamāmaṃtrya yayau yādṛcchiko muniḥ | babhūva kāmavivaśaśśivamāyā vimohitaḥ

Translation

Having spoken thus, the sage Yādṛcchika took leave of the king and departed. Then, overpowered by desire, he became deluded by Śiva’s Māyā.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त्वा (क्त्वान्त; अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having said’

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आमन्त्र्य: having addressed
• आमन्त्र्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/preceding action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√मन्त्र् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययकृदन्त)
• Form: ल्यप्-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): ‘having addressed/invited’

• ययौ: went
• ययौ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• यादृच्छिकः: by chance, accidental
• यादृच्छिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘मुनिः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यादृच्छिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• काम-विवशः: overpowered by desire
• काम-विवशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + विवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कामेन विवशः)

• शिव-मायया: by Śiva's māyā
• शिव-मायया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (शिवस्य माया)

• विमोहितः: deluded
• विमोहितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√मुह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययकृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Yadricchika
• King

FAQs

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

It teaches that even a learned person can fall when desire rises; Śiva’s Māyā functions as a veiling power that exposes inner weakness, pushing the soul toward humility, discernment, and eventual reliance on Śiva’s grace for liberation.

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

Since the mind can be overrun by kāma and delusion, devotion to Saguna Śiva—especially through Linga worship—anchors attention in purity and remembrance, gradually loosening Māyā’s grip and turning the heart toward Śiva as Pati (the Lord).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady restraint of the senses; supporting disciplines like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and simple daily Śiva-pūjā help stabilize the mind against desire-driven distraction.