Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 20

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

आरक्तपार्ष्णिपादाग्रप्रांतभागं पदद्वयम् । अनुरागमिवाऽनेन मित्रं तस्या मनोभवः

Transliteration

āraktapārṣṇipādāgraprāṃtabhāgaṃ padadvayam | anurāgamivā'nena mitraṃ tasyā manobhavaḥ

Translation

Das Paar ihrer Füße—deren Fersen, Zehenspitzen und äußere Ränder sanft gerötet waren—erschien wie die Liebe selbst in Gestalt; so wurde Manobhava (Kāma) gleichsam ihr Gefährte.

Word by Word

• आ-रक्त-पार्ष्णि-पाद-अग्र-प्रान्त-भागम्: the slightly reddish edge-part of heel and toe-tip
• आ-रक्त-पार्ष्णि-पाद-अग्र-प्रान्त-भागम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ (उपसर्ग) + रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + पार्ष्णि (प्रातिपदिक) + पाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘पार्ष्णेः पादाग्रस्य च प्रान्तभागः’ इति, ‘आ-रक्त’ = slightly reddish

• पद-द्वयम्: the pair of feet
• पद-द्वयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘पदयोः द्वयम्’ = pair of feet

• अनुरागम्: affection/passion
• अनुरागम्: Upameya (उपमेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुराग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘affection/passion’

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय

• अनेन: by this
• अनेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; ‘by this/with this’

• मित्रम्: a friend/ally
• मित्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative, 2nd), एकवचन; ‘friend/ally’

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive, 6th), एकवचन; ‘of her’

• मनोभवः: Manobhava (Kāma)
• मनोभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘मनसः भवः’ = born of mind (Kāma)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Kama (Manobhava)

FAQs

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

It poetically shows how powerful attraction can arise from perceived beauty, while implying a Shaiva lesson: desire is a natural force, but it must be refined and directed toward devotion and inner purity rather than mere sense-enjoyment.

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

In the Satī narrative, worldly attraction (kāma) stands in contrast to Satī’s higher orientation toward Shiva. Saguna Shiva worship trains the mind to move from outward fascination to steady contemplation of Shiva’s auspicious form and presence, culminating in deeper surrender.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is mastery and purification of desire through japa—especially the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—along with simple disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and mindful restraint to steady the mind for Shiva-bhakti.