Shloka 53

Devanagari script

तदा तावूचतुस्सद्यो नारदं स्वरविह्वलम् । विप्ररूपधरौ रुद्रगणौ ज्ञानविशारदौ

Transliteration

tadā tāvūcatussadyo nāradaṃ svaravihvalam | viprarūpadharau rudragaṇau jñānaviśāradau

Translation

Then those two Rudra-gaṇas—skilled in spiritual knowledge and assuming the form of Brahmin sages—at once addressed Nārada, whose voice was trembling with emotion.

Word by Word

• तदा: then
• तदा: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• तौ: those two
• तौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• ऊचतुः: said
• ऊचतुः: क्रिया (Kriyā)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद

• सद्यः: immediately
• सद्यः: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सद्यः (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (immediate/instantly)

• नारदम्: Nārada
• नारदम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• स्वर-विह्वलम्: distressed in voice
• स्वर-विह्वलम्: कर्म (Karma)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (स्वरेण विह्वलः), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of नारदम्)

• विप्र-रूप-धरौ: bearing the form of brāhmaṇas
• विप्र-रूप-धरौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (विप्रस्य रूपं धरतः), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of रुद्रगणौ)

• रुद्र-गणौ: the two attendants of Rudra
• रुद्र-गणौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रुद्रस्य गणौ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• ज्ञान-विशारदौ: skilled in knowledge
• ज्ञान-विशारदौ: कर्ता (Karta)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ज्ञाने विशारदौ), पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; विशेषण (qualifier of रुद्रगणौ)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Rudra-gaṇas
• Rudra (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s grace working through His Rudra-gaṇas—enlightened attendants who guide devotees like Nārada when devotion becomes intense and the heart is overwhelmed.

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

Rudra-gaṇas represent the living presence of Saguna Śiva’s divine order: Śiva responds to sincere seekers through His forms, attendants, and sacred institutions, leading the devotee toward right understanding and worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse implies steadiness in bhakti and jñāna: calm the breath and voice, then take refuge in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as guidance arrives through guru-like messengers.