Shloka 30

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

सुत उवाच वचः श्रुत्वा मुनेरित्थं विहस्य मधुसूदनः । शांकरीं प्रभुतां बुद्ध्वा प्रत्युवाच दयापरः

Transliteration

suta uvāca vacaḥ śrutvā muneritthaṃ vihasya madhusūdanaḥ | śāṃkarīṃ prabhutāṃ buddhvā pratyuvāca dayāparaḥ

Translation

Sūta said: Hearing the sage’s words spoken thus, Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu) smiled. Realizing the supreme lordship of Śaṅkarī, the Śakti of Śiva, the compassionate one replied in return.

Word by Word

• सुतः: Suta
• सुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• वचः: words; speech
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• इत्थम्: thus; in this manner
• इत्थम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इत्थम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• विहस्य: having laughed; smiling
• विहस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हस् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यबन्त/तुमुनादि-समकक्ष (Absolutive/Gerund) ‘वि-हस्’ → विहस्य, अव्ययभाव

• मधुसूदनः: Madhusūdana (Viṣṇu)
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शांकरीम्: Śāṅkarī (pertaining to Śaṅkara; the Śaiva power)
• शांकरीम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शांकरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्रभुताम्: lordship; supremacy
• प्रभुताम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभुता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• बुद्ध्वा: having understood
• बुद्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बुध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• प्रत्युवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); उपसर्ग: प्रति-

• दयापरः: full of compassion
• दयापरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights a key Shaiva teaching: true wisdom includes recognizing Śiva’s supreme sovereignty (prabhutā) and responding with humility and compassion—qualities that arise when one aligns with Pati (the Lord) rather than ego.

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

By affirming Śaṅkara’s lordship, the verse supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva as the compassionate, sovereign Lord who can be worshiped through the Liṅga with reverence, surrender, and recognition of His supreme status.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is bhakti grounded in right understanding: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with a humble attitude, and worship that cultivates compassion (dayā) as a sign of Śiva-alignment.