Shloka 57

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

युवां ममोपहासं वै चक्रतुर्ब्राह्मणस्य हि । भवेतां राक्षसौ विप्रवीर्यजौ वै तदाकृती

Transliteration

yuvāṃ mamopahāsaṃ vai cakraturbrāhmaṇasya hi | bhavetāṃ rākṣasau vipravīryajau vai tadākṛtī

Translation

“You two indeed mocked me, a brāhmaṇa. Therefore, may you become rākṣasas—born from the power (austerity) of a brāhmaṇa—and assume that very form.”

Word by Word

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; संबोधनार्थे/कर्तृवाचक-प्रयोगे सन्दर्भानुसार (you two)

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• उपहासम्: mockery, ridicule
• उपहासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपहास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ/उक्त्यनुवाद (indeed)

• चक्रतुः: (they) did, made
• चक्रतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd/प्रथम), द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• ब्राह्मणस्य: of the Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/बलार्थ (for/indeed)

• भवेताम्: be (you two should become)
• भवेताम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd/मध्यम), द्विवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• राक्षसौ: two rākṣasas (demons)
• राक्षसौ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• विप्र-वीर्य-जौ: born from a Brahmin’s power
• विप्र-वीर्य-जौ: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: विप्रस्य वीर्यात् जातौ (born of a Brahmin’s potency); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; ‘राक्षसौ’ विशेषणम्

• वै: indeed
• वै: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), निश्चयार्थ

• तत्-आकृती: of that form, having such a form
• तत्-आकृती: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + आकृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: तस्य (तद्) आकृतिः यस्य/ययोः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; ‘राक्षसौ’ विशेषणम्

Speaker

A brāhmaṇa (a sage) pronouncing a curse as moral retribution within the creation narrative, as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that contempt for dharma—especially ridicule of a brāhmaṇa or sage—invites a fall in consciousness and circumstances. In a Śaiva reading, such downfall is a karmic obscuration (āvaraṇa) that delays the soul’s movement toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

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

Though not directly about the Liṅga, it supports the devotional discipline required for Saguna Shiva worship: humility, reverence for śāstra and gurus, and restraint of speech. These qualities make one fit to approach Shiva’s forms and rites without accruing fresh pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vāṅ-niyama (discipline of speech) and daily repentance/prāyaścitta for hurtful words, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to purify intention and restore reverence.