नारदतपोवर्णनम्
Nārada’s Austerities Described
विष्णुवाक्यमिति श्रुत्वा नारदो गर्वितो मुनिः । स्ववृत्तं सर्वमाचष्ट समदं मदमोहितः
viṣṇuvākyamiti śrutvā nārado garvito muniḥ | svavṛttaṃ sarvamācaṣṭa samadaṃ madamohitaḥ
Mendengar kata-kata Viṣṇu, sang muni Nārada menjadi besar kepala; terpesona oleh mabuk keangkuhan dan kesombongan, dia menceritakan seluruh perbuatannya.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
It highlights how mada (egoic pride) and moha (delusion) distort even a sage’s perception, becoming a pasha (bond) that veils clear discernment and delays true Shiva-oriented liberation.
Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship trains humility, surrender, and inner purification; this verse shows the opposite tendency—self-importance—implying that devotion must be free from ego for Shiva’s grace to bear fruit.
Cultivate humility through japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with self-examination; supporting practices like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa are traditionally used to steady the mind and reduce ego-driven agitation.