Shloka 57

नारदस्य विष्णूपदेशवर्णनम् — Nārada and Viṣṇu: Instruction after Delusion

Devanagari script

जातापि शंकरे भक्तिरन्यसाधारणी वृथा । परं त्वव्यभिचारेण शिवभक्तिरपेक्षिता

Transliteration

jātāpi śaṃkare bhaktiranyasādhāraṇī vṛthā | paraṃ tvavyabhicāreṇa śivabhaktirapekṣitā

Translation

Even if devotion to Śaṅkara has arisen, if it is a common, wavering devotion mixed with other aims, it becomes fruitless. What is required is unwavering, exclusive bhakti to Śiva.

Word by Word

• जाता: arisen, born
• जाता: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भक्तिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अपि: even if, though
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-अव्यय (concessive particle: even/though)

• शङ्करे: in/for Śaṅkara (Śiva)
• शङ्करे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location; object of devotion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

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

• अन्य-साधारणी: common (shared) with others
• अन्य-साधारणी: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य + साधारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भक्तिः इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; तत्पुरुष (अन्येषां साधारणी = common to others)

• वृथा: in vain, fruitless
• वृथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वृथा (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: in vain)

• परम्: but, however
• परम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: परम् (अव्यय/नपुंसक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (discourse particle: but/rather/however)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वय-अव्यय (contrastive particle)

• अव्यभिचारेण: with unwavering fidelity (non-deviation)
• अव्यभिचारेण: Karana (करण/Means; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव्यभिचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; manner/instrument

• शिव-भक्तिः: devotion to Śiva
• शिव-भक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य भक्तिः)

• अपेक्षिता: is required, is expected
• अपेक्षिता: Kriya (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicative)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपेक्ष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (is required)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Śiva Purāṇa teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it distinguishes true Śiva-bhakti from mixed, goal-diverted religiosity, treating ‘shared’ devotion as ineffective for liberation.

Significance: General: teaches ekānta-bhakti (exclusive devotion) as the decisive orientation for Śiva’s saving path.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that bhakti becomes spiritually effective only when it is steady and single-pointed toward Śiva (Pati); mixed or wavering devotion tied to competing aims does not lead to Śiva’s grace and liberation.

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

Liṅga/Saguṇa worship is meant to stabilize the mind in one chosen divine focus—Śiva alone—so that devotion does not ‘deviate’ to other supports; the verse emphasizes this non-deviating orientation as the core of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a consistent Śiva-vrata: daily Liṅga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a firm resolve to keep Śiva as the sole refuge (ananya-bhakti), avoiding distraction into competing devotional aims.