Shloka 43

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

न शुश्राव यथार्थं तु तद्वाक्यं स्मरविह्वलः । पर्यैक्षच्छ्रीमतीं तां वै तल्लिप्सुर्मोहितो मुनिः

Transliteration

na śuśrāva yathārthaṃ tu tadvākyaṃ smaravihvalaḥ | paryaikṣacchrīmatīṃ tāṃ vai tallipsurmohito muniḥ

Translation

Overwhelmed by the agitation of desire, the sage did not truly grasp the meaning of her words. Deluded and intent on possessing her, he kept looking upon that illustrious lady again and again.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• शुश्राव: heard
• शुश्राव: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यथार्थम्: the truth / correctly
• यथार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथार्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (as adverbial accusative)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/अन्वय (but/indeed)

• तत्-वाक्यम्: that statement
• तत्-वाक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; ‘that statement’

• स्मर-विह्वलः: distressed by love
• स्मर-विह्वलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् मुनिः-शब्दस्य; ‘agitated by love’

• पर्यैक्षत्: looked around at / observed
• पर्यैक्षत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• श्रीमतीम्: Śrīmatī (the lady)
• श्रीमतीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीमती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; (नाम/विशेष्य)

• ताम्: her
• ताम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• तत्-लिप्सुः: desiring her
• तत्-लिप्सुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + लिप्सु (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् मुनिः-शब्दस्य; ‘desirous of that (her)’; लिप्सु = desiderative adjective (wanting to obtain)

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) → मोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; विशेषणम् मुनिः-शब्दस्य

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

It shows how kāma (desire) clouds discernment: when the mind is bound by moha, one cannot hear “yathārtha” (truth as it is). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this is pasha (bondage) obscuring the soul’s clear knowing, which is purified through devotion and restraint.

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

The verse contrasts sense-driven fixation with Shiva-oriented contemplation. Linga/Saguna Shiva worship gathers the mind from outward grasping to inward steadiness, turning attention from “possessing” to “surrendering,” which loosens pasha and aligns the devotee with Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter desire with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple discipline (indriya-nigraha). If practiced, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha are traditional Shaiva aids for recollection and steadiness, though the verse chiefly emphasizes mental restraint.