Shloka 17

Kāmodākhyāna

Glory of the Kāmodā Sacred Place

Devanagari script

तैस्तु यः पूजयेद्देवं शंकरं लोकशंकरम् । स युज्येताखिलैर्दुःखैः पूर्वपापैर्विमोहितः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

taistu yaḥ pūjayeddevaṃ śaṃkaraṃ lokaśaṃkaram | sa yujyetākhilairduḥkhaiḥ pūrvapāpairvimohitaḥ || 17 ||

Translation

แต่ผู้ใดบูชาพระศังกร ผู้เกื้อกูลโลก ด้วยสิ่งนั้นโดยทางอันไม่สมควร—ผู้นั้นถูกความหลงจากบาปเก่าครอบงำ และประสบทุกข์นานาประการ।

Word by Word

• तैः: with those (lotuses)
• तैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: however/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विशेषार्थक निपात

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धवाचक सर्वनाम

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शंकरम्: Śaṅkara
• शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• लोक-शंकरम्: benefactor of the world
• लोक-शंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘लोकस्य शंकरः’ इति (benefactor of the world)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन

• युज्येत: would be afflicted/connected
• युज्येत: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोग (passive sense) ‘would be yoked/afflicted’

• अखिलैः: with all
• अखिलैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with दुःखैः)

• दुःखैः: by/with sufferings
• दुःखैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• पूर्व-पापैः: by former sins
• पूर्व-पापैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पूर्वाणि पापानि’ (former sins)

• विमोहितः: deluded
• विमोहितः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण/subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + मोहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √मुह्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) — ‘deluded’

Speaker

Narada (in dialogue context with Sanatkumara tradition; verse delivers a prescriptive warning)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhayanaka

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Characters & Entities

• Shankara (Shiva)

FAQs

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

It warns that even worship of Śiva (Śaṅkara), if done through improper or prohibited means, can lead to suffering—because the worshipper’s mind is already clouded by prior demerit (pūrva-pāpa), and the act fails to align with dharma and correct ritual intent.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

It implies that bhakti is not merely an external act; devotion must be harmonized with purity of means and dharmic conduct. When worship is performed wrongly, it reflects inner delusion and does not yield auspicious spiritual fruit.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse points to the importance of correct ritual procedure (kalpa/vidhi) and disciplined practice—core to Vedic ritual science—showing that method and appropriateness of offerings/actions affect spiritual outcomes.