Shloka 40

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

यथा माता च भगिनी भ्रातृपत्नी तथा सुता । एतः कुदृष्ट्या द्रष्टव्या न कदापि विपश्चिता

Transliteration

yathā mātā ca bhaginī bhrātṛpatnī tathā sutā | etaḥ kudṛṣṭyā draṣṭavyā na kadāpi vipaścitā

Translation

كما يُنظَر إلى الأمّ والأخت وزوجة الأخ والابنة، كذلك ينبغي؛ فلا يجوز للحكيم أن ينظر إلى هؤلاء النساء قطّ بنظرةٍ فاسدة أو شهوانية.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• भगिनी: sister
• भगिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्रातृपत्नी: brother’s wife
• भ्रातृपत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘brother’s wife’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतावाचक-अव्यय (correlative: ‘so/likewise’)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘these’ (referring to the women mentioned)

• कुदृष्ट्या: with an evil gaze
• कुदृष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘bad’ + ‘look’)

• द्रष्टव्याः: to be looked at/should be viewed
• द्रष्टव्याः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयः ‘should be looked at’ (negated later)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कदापि: ever
• कदापि: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb) ‘ever/at any time’

• विपश्चिता: a wise person
• विपश्चिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/nominative), एकवचन; ‘wise (woman)’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it functions as a dharma-śikṣā (ethical injunction) within the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative, emphasizing purity of dṛṣṭi (gaze) as a prerequisite for higher Śaiva discipline.

Significance: General upadeśa: purity of perception supports śiva-bhakti and yogic steadiness; restraining lust is presented as protection against bondage (pāśa).

FAQs

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

It teaches dṛṣṭi-śuddhi (purity of perception): the wise restrain lustful vision and cultivate reverence, supporting inner cleanliness (śauca) and steadiness needed for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

Linga worship emphasizes inner purity and mastery of the senses; restraining corrupt gaze aligns the devotee’s mind toward Saguna Shiva with devotion and toward the Linga as the symbol of transcendent purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is a vrata of sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha), supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and mindful guarding of the eyes as part of daily discipline.