Shloka 55

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

न भक्तिश्शंकरे पुंसां रागद्वेषरतात्मनाम् । तद्विधानां हि सहसा मुक्तिर्भवति सर्वथा

Transliteration

na bhaktiśśaṃkare puṃsāṃ rāgadveṣaratātmanām | tadvidhānāṃ hi sahasā muktirbhavati sarvathā

Translation

For men whose minds are absorbed in attachment and aversion, devotion to Śaṅkara does not arise. But for those who follow His prescribed disciplines, liberation indeed comes—suddenly and in every way.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• भक्तिः: devotion
• भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• शंकरे: in/for Śaṅkara
• शंकरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• पुंसाम्: of men
• पुंसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुंस्/पुम्स् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन

• राग-द्वेष-रत-आत्मनाम्: whose minds are attached to passion and hatred
• राग-द्वेष-रत-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: राग (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त; √रम् (धातु) क्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; समासः—(रागश्च द्वेषश्च) द्वन्द्व (अन्तर्भूत), (तयोः रतः) सप्तमी/तत्पुरुष-भाव, (रतः आत्मा यस्य) बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थक-समासप्रयोगः; समग्रं ‘पुंसाम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तद्-विधानाम्: of those who follow His ordinance/discipline
• तद्-विधानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; समासः—तस्य (शंकरस्य) विधानाः = तद्विधानाः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• सहसा: suddenly/at once
• सहसा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सहसा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• मुक्तिः: liberation
• मुक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• भवति: arises/happens
• भवति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सर्वथा: entirely/in all ways
• सर्वथा: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: ‘in every way/entirely’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that rāga (clinging desire) and dveṣa (reactive hatred) obstruct Śiva-bhakti; when these binding tendencies are checked through Śiva’s ordained path, mokṣa can arise swiftly by Śiva’s grace.

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

Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship is a discipline that steadies the mind and purifies rāga-dveṣa; by following Śiva’s prescribed observances with devotion, the worshipper becomes fit for Śiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Follow Śiva’s vidhi: regular Linga-pūjā, japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and purificatory observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and restrained conduct to reduce rāga-dveṣa.