Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 42

नारदतपोवर्णनम्

Nārada’s Austerities Described

Devanagari script

आगच्छंतं मुनिन्दृष्ट्वा नारदं विष्णुरादरात् । उत्थित्वाग्रे गतोऽरं तं शिश्लेषज्ञातहेतुकः

Transliteration

āgacchaṃtaṃ munindṛṣṭvā nāradaṃ viṣṇurādarāt | utthitvāgre gato'raṃ taṃ śiśleṣajñātahetukaḥ

Translation

آتے ہوئے مُنی نارد کو دیکھ کر وِشنو نے احترام سے اٹھ کر آگے بڑھ کر اس کا استقبال کیا اور آمد کی وجہ جانے بغیر بھی اسے گلے لگا لیا۔

Word by Word

• आगच्छन्तम्: (him) who was coming
• आगच्छन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + गम् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘coming’

• मुनिम्: the sage
• मुनिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having seen’

• नारदम्: Nārada
• नारदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• आदरात्: out of respect
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान/हेतु), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (out of respect)

• उत्थित्वा: having risen
• उत्थित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत् + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), ‘having risen’

• अग्रे: in front
• अग्रे: Deśa (देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण सप्तमी-एकवचन (adverb: in front)

• गतः: went
• गतः: Kriyā (क्रिया/भाव)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘gone’

• अरम्: quickly/suitably
• अरम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अरम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पर्याप्त्यर्थक/शीघ्रार्थक (particle/adverb: suitably/quickly/enough)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• शिश्लेष: embraced
• शिश्लेष: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्लिष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ज्ञात-हेतुकः: knowing the reason
• ज्ञात-हेतुकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञात (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त) + हेतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—यस्य हेतुḥ ज्ञातः सः (‘one who knew the reason/cause’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Narada

FAQs

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

It highlights satkāra (reverent welcome) of a realized devotee: even a great deity like Viṣṇu rises, goes forward, and embraces Nārada, teaching humility and openness to divine instruction that ultimately serves Pati (Śiva) and dharma.

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

Though Śiva-liṅga worship is not explicit here, the Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa frames events through messengers like Nārada who redirect attention toward Śiva-tattva; honoring such a messenger supports saguna-bhakti, where devotion is expressed through respectful conduct and receptivity to Śiva-oriented teachings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sat-saṅga and guru-bhakti: receive saints with respect, listen attentively, and mentally offer hospitality; as a Shaiva takeaway, accompany such reverence with japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to cultivate humility and readiness for Śiva’s grace.