Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

शृणुतादरतस्तत्र कारणं शौनकादयः । ईश्वरानुग्रहेणात्र न प्रभावः स्मरस्य हि

Transliteration

śṛṇutādaratastatra kāraṇaṃ śaunakādayaḥ | īśvarānugraheṇātra na prabhāvaḥ smarasya hi

Translation

اے شاؤنک اور دیگر رشیو! اس کا سبب توجہ سے سنو؛ اس معاملے میں ایشور (شیو) کے انوگرہ سے وہاں سمر (کام دیو) کا کوئی اثر نہ تھا۔

Word by Word

• śṛṇuta: listen
• śṛṇuta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (श्रु धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), परस्मैपदम्, मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन (plural)

• ādarataḥ: earnestly/with attention
• ādarataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ādara (आदर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘from/with respect to earnestness’ = ‘earnestly’

• tatra: there/in that matter
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• kāraṇam: cause/reason
• kāraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāraṇa (कारण प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• śaunaka-ādayaḥ: Śaunaka and others
• śaunaka-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaunaka (शौनक प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (आदि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन; ‘śaunakaḥ ādiḥ yeṣām te’ (group designation)

• īśvara-anugraheṇa: by the Lord’s grace
• īśvara-anugraheṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśvara (ईश्वर प्रातिपदिक) + anugraha (अनुग्रह प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (īśvarasya anugrahaḥ)

• atra: here/in this case
• atra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• prabhāvaḥ: power/influence
• prabhāvaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhāva (प्रभाव प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• smarasya: of Smara (Kāma)
• smarasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (स्मर प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• hi: indeed/for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) expressing reason/emphasis

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Doctrinal takeaway for pilgrims: in kṣetra or in sādhana, obstacles of desire lose force where Īśvara’s anugraha is invoked; encourages refuge (śaraṇāgati) in Śiva.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Smara)
• Shaunaka

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that desire (Kāma) cannot dominate a seeker when Śiva’s anugraha (grace) is present—grace strengthens inner restraint and turns the mind toward liberation rather than sense-impulse.

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

Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship is a direct means to invoke Īśvara’s anugraha; through devotion and surrender, the passions symbolized by Kāma lose their force, making the devotee fit for steadiness in worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhakti and self-discipline, praying for Śiva’s grace to subdue desire and stabilize the mind.