Shloka 9

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

एतादृशम्पुरं दृष्ट्वा मोहम्प्राप्तोऽथ नारदः । कौतुकी तन्नृपद्वारं जगाम मदनेधितः

Transliteration

etādṛśampuraṃ dṛṣṭvā mohamprāpto'tha nāradaḥ | kautukī tannṛpadvāraṃ jagāma madanedhitaḥ

Translation

Beholding such a wondrous city, Nārada fell into bewilderment; stirred by curiosity—and further inflamed by desire—he went to the king’s gate.

Word by Word

• एतादृशम्: such
• एतादृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पुरम्: city
• पुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive) = having seen

• मोहम्: bewilderment
• मोहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• प्राप्तः: attained (became)
• प्राप्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+आप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त = having attained/obtained

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereupon)

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• कौतुकī: curious
• कौतुकī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कौतुकिन्/कौतुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; (इन्/ई-प्रत्ययान्त) = curious/eager

• तत्: of that (king)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; (समासपूर्वपद)

• नृपद्वारम्: the king's gate
• नृपद्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: नृपस्य द्वारम्

• जगाम: went
• जगाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मदनेधितः: inflamed by desire
• मदनेधितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदन + एधित (एध् धातु, क्त; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषभाव: मदनेन एधितः = inflamed by love/desire

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Madana (Kāma)

FAQs

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

It shows how even a great sage can be momentarily overtaken by moha when the mind turns outward; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such delusion is a movement of māyā that is overcome by turning back toward Pati (Śiva) through devotion and discernment.

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

The verse contrasts fascination with external splendor and the inward anchoring offered by Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—which gathers the mind, reduces kama-driven restlessness, and redirects attention toward Śiva as the liberating Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to calm curiosity and desire with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by simple purity disciplines such as applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining steady breath and attention before making choices.