Shloka 48

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

न दृष्ट्वा स्ववरं तत्र त्रस्तासीन्मनसेप्सितम् । अंतस्सभास्थिता कस्मिन्नर्पयामास न स्रजम्

Transliteration

na dṛṣṭvā svavaraṃ tatra trastāsīnmanasepsitam | aṃtassabhāsthitā kasminnarpayāmāsa na srajam

Translation

Not seeing there the bridegroom of her own choice—him whom her heart desired—she became afraid. Standing within the assembly hall, she could not place the garland upon anyone.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negative particle)

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having seen’

• sva-varam: her own chosen bridegroom
• sva-varam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘one’s own’ + ‘chosen bridegroom’)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• trastā: frightened
• trastā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tras (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle) स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘frightened’

• āsīt: was
• āsīt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• manasā: with (her) mind
• manasā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• īpsitam: desired
• īpsitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: ईप्सित (desiderated) कृदन्त/विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘desired’

• antaḥ: inside
• antaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) ‘inside/within’

• sabhā-sthitā: standing in the assembly
• sabhā-sthitā: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sabhā (प्रातिपदिक) + sthā (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (‘in the assembly’ + ‘standing/being situated’)

• kasmin: in/unto whom
• kasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• arpayāmāsa: offered
• arpayāmāsa: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: arp (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘offered/placed’

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• srajam: garland
• srajam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sraj (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

It portrays the soul’s (jīva’s) anxiety when the heart seeks the true Lord (Pati) yet cannot recognize Him amid worldly choices—hinting that fulfillment comes only when consciousness finds and surrenders to Shiva.

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

When the desired Lord is not outwardly “seen,” devotion turns inward; Linga-worship especially trains the mind to perceive Shiva’s presence beyond mere appearance—Saguna support leading toward deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to calm fear and fix the mind on Shiva as the chosen refuge, supported by simple daily Shiva-pūjā.