Shloka 15

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

यदा मेरुं गतो रुद्रो यदा वा नागकेशरम् । कैलासं वा यदा यातस्तत्राहं गतवांस्तदा

Transliteration

yadā meruṃ gato rudro yadā vā nāgakeśaram | kailāsaṃ vā yadā yātastatrāhaṃ gatavāṃstadā

Translation

Wann immer Rudra zum Berge Meru ging, oder nach Nāgakeśara, oder wann immer Er nach Kailāsa aufbrach—genau dann ging auch ich dorthin, Ihm folgend.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: “when”)

• मेरुम्: Mount Meru
• मेरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: meru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• गतः: gone
• गतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + gata (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृत्-प्रत्यय (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे भूतकालार्थक-विशेषण (past participle: “gone”)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (particle of alternative: “or”)

• नागकेशरम्: nāgakeśara (a fragrant flower/tree)
• नागकेशरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāga + keśara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (nāgasya keśaram)

• कैलासम्: Kailāsa
• कैलासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kailāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Singular)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (or)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (when)

• यातः: having gone
• यातः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (या धातु) + yāta (क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि भूतकालार्थक (past participle: “gone/arrived”)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: “there”)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Pronoun, Nominative, Singular)

• गतवान्: went / had gone
• गतवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + gatavat (क्तवत्-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्यय (perfective past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि “having gone”

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

Speaker

Satī (Pārvatī in her incarnation as Satī), speaking about her devoted following of Rudra

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara

Sthala Purana: The verse names Nāgakeśara as a sacred destination of Rudra; later Jyotirliṅga traditions connect Nāgeśvara with protection from poison, fear, and nāga-afflictions, emphasizing Śiva as the refuge of beings.

Significance: Darśana is sought for protection, removal of fear/poisonous afflictions, and strengthening steadfast devotion through remembrance of Śiva’s sacred wanderings.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra
• Sati
• Kailasa
• Meru

FAQs

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

It portrays Satī’s unwavering bhakti—where love for Rudra becomes continuous “companionship” through remembrance and alignment of will, a Shaiva ideal for dissolving ego and moving toward Śiva-nisṭhā (steadfastness in Śiva).

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

By emphasizing Rudra’s accessible sacred abodes (Kailāsa, Meru, tīrthas), it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through holy places, forms, and presence—while implying that true nearness is attained by inner fidelity, as in Linga-worship with focused mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Śiva-smaraṇa (constant remembrance) with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and cultivate daily devotion as a “mental pilgrimage” to Kailāsa—optionally supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids.