Shloka 4

Pātivratya-kathana

The Narrative of the Pativrata

Devanagari script

तस्य मूर्द्धनि बालेयं तोषयंती महेश्वरम् । स्थिता गानपरा दृष्टा मया तत्र सुदर्शना ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

tasya mūrddhani bāleyaṃ toṣayaṃtī maheśvaram | sthitā gānaparā dṛṣṭā mayā tatra sudarśanā || 4 ||

Translation

وہاں میں نے نہایت حسین سُدرشنہ کو دیکھا—وہ گیت میں محو کھڑی مہیشور کو خوش کر رہی تھی، اور گویا یہ نوخیز دوشیزہ اُن کے سر پر زیور کی طرح جلوہ گر تھی۔

Word by Word

• तस्य: of him/that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मूर्धनि: on the head
• मूर्धनि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• बाला: the girl
• बाला: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इयम्: this (one)
• इयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तोषयन्ती: pleasing
• तोषयन्ती: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तुष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकालिक शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘तोषयन्ती’ (causative sense: causing to be pleased); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Maheshvara (Śiva)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• स्थिताः: standing / stationed
• स्थिताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘स्थित’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (पाठे ‘स्थिता’)

• गान-पराः: devoted to singing
• गान-पराः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गान + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (पाठे ‘गानपरा’); तत्पुरुषः: गाने परा (devoted to singing)

• दृष्टा: seen
• दृष्टा: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘दृष्ट’; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘मया’ कर्तृकरणम्

• मया: by me
• मया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb)

• सु-दर्शना: beautiful to behold
• सु-दर्शना: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दर्शना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सु (good) + दर्शना (appearance)

Speaker

Narada

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bhakti

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara (Śiva)
• Sudarśanā

FAQs

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

The verse highlights devotion expressed through sacred song (gāna/kīrtana) as a direct means of pleasing Maheśvara, presenting bhakti as an experiential, heart-led worship rather than merely formal ritual.

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

By portraying Sudarśanā as wholly absorbed in singing to delight Śiva, it emphasizes single-pointed devotion (ekāgratā) and loving offering through praise—an accessible bhakti-sādhana within the tirtha-mahātmya setting.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it points to Śikṣā (proper recitation/intonation) and Chandas (meter) as supports for devotional singing and hymnody, though the verse primarily stresses bhakti rather than technical instruction.