नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion
एतादृशम्पुरं दृष्ट्वा मोहम्प्राप्तोऽथ नारदः । कौतुकी तन्नृपद्वारं जगाम मदनेधितः
etādṛśampuraṃ dṛṣṭvā mohamprāpto'tha nāradaḥ | kautukī tannṛpadvāraṃ jagāma madanedhitaḥ
Melihat kota yang menakjubkan itu, Nārada pun diliputi kebingungan. Didorong oleh rasa ingin tahu—dan semakin dinyalakan oleh keinginan—beliau menuju ke pintu gerbang raja.
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pashu
It shows how even a great sage can be momentarily overtaken by moha when the mind turns outward; in Shaiva Siddhanta, such delusion is a movement of māyā that is overcome by turning back toward Pati (Śiva) through devotion and discernment.
The verse contrasts fascination with external splendor and the inward anchoring offered by Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—which gathers the mind, reduces kama-driven restlessness, and redirects attention toward Śiva as the liberating Lord.
A practical takeaway is to calm curiosity and desire with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), supported by simple purity disciplines such as applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining steady breath and attention before making choices.