Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 6

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

स्वलोकादधिकं रम्यं नानावस्तुविराजितम् । नरनारीविहाराढ्यं चतुर्वर्णाकुलं परम्

Transliteration

svalokādadhikaṃ ramyaṃ nānāvastuvirājitam | naranārīvihārāḍhyaṃ caturvarṇākulaṃ param

Translation

Mas kaaya-aya ito kaysa sa sariling daigdig ni Brahmā, nagniningning sa sari-saring kababalaghan; hitik sa maririkit na galaw ng mga lalaki at babae, at marangal na dako na pinupuno ng apat na varṇa.

Word by Word

• स्व-लोकात्: from one’s own world
• स्व-लोकात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वः लोकः)

• अधिकम्: greater/surpassing
• अधिकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तुलनार्थे (comparative sense) विशेषणम्

• रम्यम्: delightful
• रम्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नगरम्/तत्)

• नाना-वस्तु-विराजितम्: adorned with various objects
• नाना-वस्तु-विराजितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक) + वि + राज् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘विराजित’ = adorned; तत्पुरुषः (नानावस्तुभिः विराजितम्)

• नर-नारी-विहार-आढ्यम्: rich in the amusements of men and women
• नर-नारी-विहार-आढ्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + नारी (प्रातिपदिक) + विहार (प्रातिपदिक) + आढ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नरनारीणां विहारेण आढ्यम् = समृद्धम्)

• चतुर्-वर्ण-आकुलम्: filled with the four varṇas
• चतुर्-वर्ण-आकुलम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आकुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारः वर्णाः) + आकुलम् (पूर्णम्/समाकीर्णम्)

• परम्: supreme/excellent
• परम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (नगरम्/तत्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that higher realms can surpass even Brahmā’s world in splendor, implying a graded cosmos where karmic merit and divine order manifest as refined experiences—yet, from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, even such heavens remain within the created domain and are not the final liberation (moksha) attained by Shiva’s grace.

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

By emphasizing the excellence of a created, orderly realm, the text implicitly points beyond worldly and heavenly enjoyments toward the higher aim taught in Shaiva tradition: devotion to Saguna Shiva (often centered on the Shiva Linga) that purifies bonds (pāśa) and leads the soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati), rather than mere attainment of pleasurable worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The practical takeaway is to prefer Shiva-bhakti over heaven-seeking: daily japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Linga worship (water/flower offering) and remembrance of Shiva as the supreme goal beyond all lokas.