Shloka 46

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

बभ्राम सा सभां सर्वां मालामादाय सुव्रता । वरमन्वेषती तत्र स्वात्माभीष्टं नृपात्मजा

Transliteration

babhrāma sā sabhāṃ sarvāṃ mālāmādāya suvratā | varamanveṣatī tatra svātmābhīṣṭaṃ nṛpātmajā

Translation

With the garland in her hand, the virtuous princess wandered through the entire assembly, searching there for the bridegroom truly desired by her own heart.

Word by Word

• बभ्राम: wandered/went about
• बभ्राम: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भ्रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सभाम्: assembly hall
• सभाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वाम्: entire
• सर्वाम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मालाम्: garland
• मालाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-√दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having taken’

• सुव्रता: virtuous (good-vowed)
• सुव्रता: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सु-व्रता (good-vowed/virtuous)

• वरम्: a bridegroom
• वरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अन्वेषती: seeking
• अन्वेषती: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Qualifier of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-√इष्/√एष् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘seeking’

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb)

• स्वात्माभीष्टम्: desired by herself
• स्वात्माभीष्टम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifier of object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अभीष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: स्वात्मनः अभीष्टम् (desired by her own self)

• नृपात्मजा: the king's daughter
• नृपात्मजा: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नृपस्य आत्मजा (king's daughter)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It highlights the principle that a decisive spiritual turning begins with inner clarity—one seeks what the heart truly chooses, mirroring how devotion (bhakti) must be intentional and sincere rather than merely social or external.

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

The garland-search motif parallels approaching Saguna Shiva with a chosen focus—selecting the Lord as one’s iṣṭa (beloved ideal) and offering oneself with deliberate devotion, as in offering flowers to the Shiva-linga with a resolved heart.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is saṅkalpa (clear intention) before worship—mentally choosing Shiva as the iṣṭa-devatā, then offering flowers/bilva with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” in steady, heartfelt remembrance.