Shloka 17

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

कामस्य स्तुतिमाकर्ण्य सनारीकस्य शङ्करः । प्रसन्नोऽभवदत्यंतमुवाच करुणार्द्रधीः

Transliteration

kāmasya stutimākarṇya sanārīkasya śaṅkaraḥ | prasanno'bhavadatyaṃtamuvāca karuṇārdradhīḥ

Translation

فلما سمع شَنْكَرَةُ ثناءَ كاما مع زوجته، سُرَّ سرورًا عظيمًا، ولان قلبُه بالرحمة، فتكلّم.

Word by Word

• कामस्य: of Kāma
• कामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case, genitive), एकवचन

• स्तुतिम्: praise
• स्तुतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण्/श्रु (धात्वर्थ; √कर्ण् ‘to hear’ as denominative usage)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• स-नारीकस्य: together with (his) wife/consort
• स-नारीकस्य: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (सह/सम्, अव्यय-पूर्वपद) + नारीक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नारीकेण सहितस्य)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषण

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अत्यन्तम्: exceedingly
• अत्यन्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्यन्तम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• करुण-आर्द्र-धीः: whose mind was softened by compassion
• करुण-आर्द्र-धीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: करुण (प्रातिपदिक) + आर्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (करुणया आर्द्रा धीः यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; the verse introduces Shiva speaking next)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama
• Rati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s prasāda: even those bound by desire can turn toward the Lord through sincere stuti (devotional praise), and Śiva responds with compassion that begins the process of inner purification.

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

It reflects Saguna Śiva as the approachable, responsive Lord—pleased by devotion and moved to speak for the devotee’s welfare—mirroring how Linga-worship is practiced as personal surrender to Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Stuti and nāma-japa: offer heartfelt praise and repeat the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with humility, seeking Śiva’s karuṇā (compassion) rather than worldly gain.