Shloka 20

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

अंतर्हितायां मायायां पूर्ववन्मतिमानभूत् । नारदो विस्मितमनाः प्राप्तबोधो निराकुलः

Transliteration

aṃtarhitāyāṃ māyāyāṃ pūrvavanmatimānabhūt | nārado vismitamanāḥ prāptabodho nirākulaḥ

Translation

When that Māyā withdrew and vanished, Nārada became wise as before. Astonished in mind, yet having regained true understanding, he grew calm and free from agitation.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्हितायाम्: when (it was) concealed
• अन्तर्हितायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Locative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तर्हित (कृदन्त; अन्तर् + √धा/√हि?; प्रचलित ‘अन्तर्हित’ = hidden)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative); एकवचन; विशेषण—मायायाम्

• मायायाम्: in/when the māyā
• मायायाम्: अधिकरण (Adhikarana)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/Locative); एकवचन

• पूर्ववत्: as before
• पूर्ववत्: क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्ववत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/रीतिवाचक (indeclinable adverb: as before)

• मतिमान्: intelligent
• मतिमान्: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st); एकवचन; विशेषण—नारदः

• अभूत्: became / was
• अभूत्: क्रिया
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष; एकवचन

• नारदः: Nārada
• नारदः: कर्ता
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• विस्मितमनाः: astonished-minded
• विस्मितमनाः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विस्मित + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण—नारदः; समासः कर्मधारयः (विस्मितं मनः यस्य/विस्मित-मनाः)

• प्राप्तबोधः: having regained understanding
• प्राप्तबोधः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राप्त + बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण—नारदः; समासः तत्पुरुषः (प्राप्तः बोधः यस्य/प्राप्त-बोधः)

• निराकुलः: unperturbed
• निराकुलः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निराकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; विशेषण—नारदः

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana account to the sages, describing Narada’s state)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Maya

FAQs

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

It shows that māyā is a temporary veiling power: when the veil lifts by grace and right discernment, the seeker’s original clarity returns, bringing calmness (nirākulatā) and stable understanding (bodha).

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

In Shaiva practice, devotion to Saguna Shiva (often through Linga worship) steadies the mind and purifies perception; as devotion matures into knowledge, the deluding effects of māyā subside and the devotee regains clear insight, like Nārada here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to cultivate steady japa and contemplation to pierce māyā—especially Panchākṣarī mantra-japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a calm, witness-like mind—so that bodha becomes firm and agitation falls away.