Shloka 17

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

त्वं स्त्रीवियोगजं दुःखं लभस्व परदुःखदः । मनुष्यगतिकः प्रायो भवाज्ञानविमोहितः

Transliteration

tvaṃ strīviyogajaṃ duḥkhaṃ labhasva paraduḥkhadaḥ | manuṣyagatikaḥ prāyo bhavājñānavimohitaḥ

Translation

“You who cause sorrow to others shall yourself obtain the grief born of separation from a woman. Deluded by ignorance, you will mostly take a human course of existence.”

Word by Word

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्त्री-वियोग-जम्: born of separation from a woman
• स्त्री-वियोग-जम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक) + वियोग (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्त्रीवियोगात् जातम्) विशेषणम् दुःखम् प्रति

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लभस्व: obtain, experience
• लभस्व: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पर-दुःख-दः: O giver of others' sorrow
• पर-दुःख-दः: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक) + द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (परस्य दुःखं ददाति इति) सम्बोधनार्थे (addressing 'you')

• मनुष्य-गतिकः: having the condition/lot of a human
• मनुष्य-गतिकः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनुष्य (प्रातिपदिक) + गति (प्रातिपदिक) + क (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मनुष्यस्य गतिः यस्य) विशेषणम् त्वम् प्रति

• प्रायः: generally, mostly
• प्रायः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रायः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः—निपात/क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: generally/mostly)

• भव: become
• भव: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अज्ञान-विमोहितः: thoroughly deluded by ignorance
• अज्ञान-विमोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from मुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अज्ञानेन विमोहितः) विशेषणम् त्वम् प्रति

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as the moral governor of karma within the creation narrative, delivering a consequential curse/boon)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It states the Shaiva law of karma: one who inflicts suffering becomes bound by similar suffering, and ajñāna (ignorance) keeps the soul moving in human birth rather than turning toward Shiva as Pati, the liberator.

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

By showing Shiva as Saguna—the compassionate yet just Lord who governs creation and karma—this verse encourages devotees to seek refuge in Shiva through Linga-worship to weaken ajñāna and purify harmful tendencies.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and sincere repentance/ahimsā-vows, so that karmic harm is restrained and the mind turns from delusion toward Shiva.