Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva
समित्रेण मया ब्रह्मन्नुपाया विविधाः कृताः । रत्या सहाखिलास्ते च निष्फला अभवञ्च्छिवे
samitreṇa mayā brahmannupāyā vividhāḥ kṛtāḥ | ratyā sahākhilāste ca niṣphalā abhavañcchive
يا أيها البراهمن، لقد جرّبتُ مع صديقي شتّى الحِيَل والوسائل؛ غير أنّها جميعًا—ولو بمعونة رَتي (Rati)—ثبتت عقيمةً في شأن شيفا.
Kāma (Manmatha), speaking to Brahmā
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga linkage; the verse highlights the impotence of erotic stratagems (even with Rati) against Śiva—teaching that worldly upāyas cannot penetrate the Lord’s yogic concealment (tirodhāna) and transcendence.
Significance: Encourages pilgrims to replace external ‘means’ with inner discipline and devotion; frames Śiva as the ultimate object not attainable by sensory manipulation.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights that Śiva, the supreme Pati, is not compelled by worldly desire; ordinary tactics that bind embodied beings become ineffective before His yogic sovereignty, pointing seekers toward vairāgya and devotion rather than sense-driven pursuit.
The verse underscores Śiva’s transcendence even while He is worshipped in a tangible Saguna form such as the Liṅga—devotees approach Him through purity, mantra, and surrender, not through emotional or sensual manipulation.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate restraint and steadiness through Śiva-mantra japa (especially the pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) along with disciplined worship (e.g., bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and focused meditation) to overcome kama rather than feed it.