Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
काम-शक्र-संवादः / Dialogue of Kāma and Śakra
Indra
पंचैव मृदवो बाणास्ते च पुष्पमया मम । चापस्त्रिधा पुष्पमयश्शिंजिनी भ्रमरार्ज्जिता । बलं सुदयिता मे हि वसंतः सचिवस्स्मृतः
paṃcaiva mṛdavo bāṇāste ca puṣpamayā mama | cāpastridhā puṣpamayaśśiṃjinī bhramarārjjitā | balaṃ sudayitā me hi vasaṃtaḥ sacivassmṛtaḥ
আমার পাঁচটি বাণ কোমল, আর সবই পুষ্পময়। আমার ধনুকও ত্রিবিধ ও পুষ্পময়; ভ্রমরে অলংকৃত তার ধনুর্জ্যা মধুর গুঞ্জন তোলে। আমার শক্তি আমার প্রিয়া; বসন্তকে আমার মন্ত্রী বলা হয়।
Kama (Manmatha), as described within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative
Tattva Level: pasha
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse personifies desire (Kama) as gentle yet binding—flower-made weapons show that attachment can appear sweet, but it still pierces the mind; Shaiva Siddhanta stresses mastery of kama through devotion and discernment to move toward Shiva-realization.
In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee offers flowers outwardly while inwardly restraining the ‘flower-arrows’ of desire; the Linga becomes a focus for turning attraction away from fleeting objects toward Shiva, the स्थिर (steady) Reality.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with breath awareness and sense-restraint, especially in springtime or festival seasons, converting emotional agitation into bhakti and inner steadiness.