Shloka 8

Strī-svabhāva-kathanam: Nārada–Pañcacūḍā-saṃvāda

Discourse on Dispassion via the Nārada–Pañcacūḍā Dialogue

Devanagari script

नारद उवाच । न त्वामविषये भद्रे नियोक्ष्यामि कथंचन । स्त्रीणां स्वभावमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रोतुं सुमध्यमे

Transliteration

nārada uvāca | na tvāmaviṣaye bhadre niyokṣyāmi kathaṃcana | strīṇāṃ svabhāvamicchāmi tvattaḥ śrotuṃ sumadhyame

Translation

Nārada said: “O auspicious one, I will never, under any circumstance, engage you in what is improper. O slender-waisted lady, I wish to hear from you about the natural disposition of women.”

Word by Word

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā-vibhakti, Ekavacana

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (perfect), Parasmaipada, Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Pratiṣedha-nipāta (निषेध/negative particle)

• tvām: you
• tvām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yuṣmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvitīyā-vibhakti (accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• aviṣaye: in an irrelevant matter
• aviṣaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Saptamī-vibhakti (locative/7th), Ekavacana; negated noun ‘not the proper topic’

• bhadre: O auspicious lady
• bhadre: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhadra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana-vibhakti (vocative), Ekavacana

• niyokṣyāmi: I will engage/appoint (you)
• niyokṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-yuj (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ-lakāra (periphrastic future), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana

• kathaṃcana: in any way
• kathaṃcana: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kathaṃcana (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) ‘in any way/at all’

• strīṇām: of women
• strīṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī-vibhakti (genitive/6th), Bahuvacana

• svabhāvam: nature
• svabhāvam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā-vibhakti (accusative/2nd), Ekavacana

• icchāmi: I wish/desire
• icchāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (present), Parasmaipada, Uttama-puruṣa (1st), Ekavacana

• tvattaḥ: from you
• tvattaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pañcamī-vibhakti (ablative/5th), Ekavacana

• śrotum: to hear
• śrotum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु) + tumun (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kṛdanta infinitive (तुमुन्), expressing purpose with ‘icchāmi’

• sumadhyame: O slender-waisted one
• sumadhyame: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su + madhyama (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Sambodhana-vibhakti (vocative), Ekavacana; karmadhāraya: ‘su-madhyamā’

Speaker

Narada

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Narada

FAQs

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

The verse frames inquiry as dharma-guided: Nārada emphasizes propriety (aucitya) before seeking knowledge, reflecting the Shaiva ethic that right intention and right conduct support right understanding.

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

While not directly about Linga worship, it reflects the devotional discipline valued in Shaiva practice—approaching teachings with restraint, respect, and purity of intent, which are foundational attitudes in Saguna Shiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate self-restraint and purity of speech before study or japa; one may begin with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and a brief sankalpa to seek knowledge without impropriety.