Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

शृणुतादरतस्तत्र कारणं शौनकादयः । ईश्वरानुग्रहेणात्र न प्रभावः स्मरस्य हि

Transliteration

śṛṇutādaratastatra kāraṇaṃ śaunakādayaḥ | īśvarānugraheṇātra na prabhāvaḥ smarasya hi

Translation

敬虔に聴きなさい、シャウナカら諸仙よ、その理由を。あの件においては、イーシュヴァラ（主シヴァ）の恩寵により、カーマ（欲望の神）はまことに力を持たなかった。

Word by Word

• śṛṇuta: listen
• śṛṇuta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• ādarataḥ: earnestly/with attention
• ādarataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādara (आदर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/with respect to earnestness’ = ‘earnestly’

• tatra: there/in that matter
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• kāraṇam: cause/reason
• kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (कारण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• śaunaka-ādayaḥ: Śaunaka and others
• śaunaka-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaunaka (शौनक प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; ‘śaunakaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām te’ (group designation)

• īśvara-anugraheṇa: by the Lord’s grace
• īśvara-anugraheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (ईश्वर प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (अनुग्रह प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (īśvarasya anugrahaḥ)

• atra: here/in this case
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• prabhāvaḥ: power/influence
• prabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāva (प्रभाव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• smarasya: of Smara (Kāma)
• smarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (स्मर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) expressing reason/emphasis

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Doctrinal takeaway for pilgrims: in kṣetra or in sādhana, obstacles of desire lose force where Īśvara’s anugraha is invoked; encourages refuge (śaraṇāgati) in Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Smara)
• Shaunaka

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that desire (Kāma) cannot dominate a seeker when Śiva’s anugraha (grace) is present—grace strengthens inner restraint and turns the mind toward liberation rather than sense-impulse.

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

Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship is a direct means to invoke Īśvara’s anugraha; through devotion and surrender, the passions symbolized by Kāma lose their force, making the devotee fit for steadiness in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and self-discipline, praying for Śiva’s grace to subdue desire and stabilize the mind.