Shloka 44

गृहस्थ-जीवनसंस्काराः तथा पुत्रजन्म-शुभलक्षणवर्णनम् / Household Saṃskāras and the Auspicious Portents of a Son’s Birth

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । विश्वानर मुने वच्मि शृणु पुत्रांकमादरात् । सर्वांगस्वंकवान्पुत्रो महालक्षणवानयम्

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | viśvānara mune vacmi śṛṇu putrāṃkamādarāt | sarvāṃgasvaṃkavānputro mahālakṣaṇavānayam

Translation

Narada said: “O sage Viśvānara, I shall speak—listen with reverence as you hold your son upon your lap. This son bears auspicious marks in every limb and is endowed with great characteristics.”

Word by Word

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

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विश्वानर: O Viśvānara
• विश्वानर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्वानर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• वच्मि: I tell/say
• वच्मि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/वर्तमान), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• शृणु: listen
• शृणु: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• पुत्र-अङ्कम्: (about) the son’s lap / the child on the lap
• पुत्र-अङ्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पुत्रस्य अङ्कम् = lap of the son)

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारण (ablative of cause)

• सर्व-अङ्ग-स्व-अङ्क-वान्: having auspicious marks on all limbs
• सर्व-अङ्ग-स्व-अङ्क-वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वान् (मतुप्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासान्त ‘-वान्’ (possessive, मतुप्); अर्थः ‘सर्वाङ्गेषु स्वाङ्कः/चिह्नः यस्य सः’ (having marks on all limbs)

• पुत्रः: the son
• पुत्रः: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महा-लक्षण-वान्: possessing great characteristics
• महा-लक्षण-वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + वत्/वान् (मतुप्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् लक्षणम्) + मतुप् (वान्)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Viśvānara

FAQs

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

The verse highlights śraddhā (reverent attentiveness) and the recognition of auspicious lakṣaṇas as signs of divine grace—encouraging the devotee to perceive Shiva’s guiding presence in embodied life.

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

By emphasizing visible auspicious qualities (lakṣaṇas), the verse aligns with Saguna devotion—where Shiva’s grace is approached through perceivable signs, forms, and narratives, ultimately leading the mind toward the Linga as the sacred focus of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to listen to Purāṇic teaching with ādara (reverence) and steady attention; this supports japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and contemplative remembrance of Shiva’s grace manifesting in daily life.