Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22

नारदमोहवर्णनम् — Description of Nārada’s Delusion

Devanagari script

विधायेत्थं विष्णुरूपं ग्रहीतुं मुनिसत्तमः । विष्णुलोकं जगामाशु नारदः स्मरविह्वलः

Transliteration

vidhāyetthaṃ viṣṇurūpaṃ grahītuṃ munisattamaḥ | viṣṇulokaṃ jagāmāśu nāradaḥ smaravihvalaḥ

Translation

他既如此决意要摄取毗湿奴（Viṣṇu）之形，最胜仙者那罗陀（Nārada）便迅疾前往毗湿奴之界，心为爱欲的渴念所扰。依湿婆派之见，即便如此崇高者，亦在摩耶（māyā）的驱使下流转，直至主宰帕提（Pati，湿婆）之恩典使其心安定坚固。

Word by Word

• vidhāya: having arranged / having assumed
• vidhāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√dhā (धा धातु)
• Form: Kridanta; absolutive/gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय/ल्यप्), expressing prior action

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; manner adverb (प्रकारवाचक)

• viṣṇu-rūpam: Viṣṇu’s form
• viṣṇu-rūpam: Karma (कर्म; object of vidhāya/grahītuṃ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः रूपम्)

• grahītum: to take / assume
• grahītum: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √grah (ग्रह् धातु)
• Form: Kridanta; infinitive (तुमुन्), purpose

• muni-sattamaḥ: the best of sages
• muni-sattamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + sattama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय (मुनीनां सत्तमः = best among sages)

• viṣṇu-lokam: to Viṣṇu’s world
• viṣṇu-lokam: Karma (कर्म; goal of motion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (विष्णोः लोकः)

• jagāma: went
• jagāma: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• āśu: quickly
• āśu: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āśu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (शीघ्रार्थक)

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता; apposition to muni-sattamaḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• smara-vihvalaḥ: distressed by love (Kāma)
• smara-vihvalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक) + vihvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; समासः तत्पुरुष (स्मरेण विह्वलः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It shows that even a great sage like Nārada can be stirred by smara (desire/longing), illustrating the Shaiva Siddhanta insight that bondage (pāśa) persists until the soul is steadied by Śiva’s grace and right discernment.

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

Nārada’s movement toward a divine realm under emotional agitation highlights the need for a stable devotional center; in Śaiva practice, worship of the Śiva-liṅga (saguṇa upāsanā leading to higher realization) anchors the mind and redirects longing into pure bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to pacify smara-vikāra (agitation of desire), supported by simple Śiva-pūjā with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) as a reminder of dispassion and clarity.