Shloka 40

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

एवं चेष्टां तदा दृष्ट्वा शंभुर्मोहमुपागतः । उवाच वचनं चैवं महालीलो महेश्वरः

Transliteration

evaṃ ceṣṭāṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā śaṃbhurmohamupāgataḥ | uvāca vacanaṃ caivaṃ mahālīlo maheśvaraḥ

Translation

فلما رأى شَمبهو (الربّ شيفا) سلوكَها على تلك الحال، غشيه ذهولٌ لحظةً. ثم إنّ ذلك الربّ العظيم—مَهيشڤرا، ذو اللِّيلَا الواسعة الإلهية—نطق بهذه الكلمات.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus)

• चेष्टाम्: gesture/act
• चेष्टाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक (temporal adverb: then)

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकालक्रिया (preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘having seen’

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

• मोहम्: delusion
• मोहम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• उपागतः: entered/attained
• उपागतः: क्रिया (state/action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-आ-गम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; शम्भोः (having reached/entered)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वचनम्: words, speech
• वचनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक (conjunction: and)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• महालीलः: the greatly playful one
• महालीलः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + लील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; महेश्वरस्य विशेषण/उपनाम (one of great playfulness)

• महेश्वरः: Maheśvara
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the verse introduces Shiva’s forthcoming speech)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Shiva’s “lila” within the narrative: even when moha appears, it functions as a purposeful divine play that leads beings toward clarity, devotion, and right understanding of Pati (the Lord) in Shaiva thought.

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

By naming Shiva as Śambhu and Mahēśvara, the verse supports Saguna contemplation—worshipping the Lord with attributes and compassionate agency—while implying that the Lord remains sovereign over maya, which Linga worship symbolizes as the transcendent Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to steady the mind when “moha” arises—repeat the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, and meditate on Shiva as Maheshvara, the compassionate Lord guiding the devotee through life’s changing states.