Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

सरांस्युत्फुल्लपद्मानि वीजयन् मलयानिलैः । यत्नात्सुगंधीन्यकरोदतीव गिरिशाश्रमे

Transliteration

sarāṃsyutphullapadmāni vījayan malayānilaiḥ | yatnātsugaṃdhīnyakarodatīva giriśāśrame

Translation

Mit den kühlen Winden von Malaya fächelte er die seen mit den erblühten Lotosblumen und machte sie mit großer Sorgfalt überaus duftend—so mehrte er die Heiligkeit und Stille des Āśrama Girīśas (Śivas).

Word by Word

• सरांसि: lakes
• सरांसि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन (Nom./Acc. plural)

• उत्फुल्ल-पद्मानि: bloomed lotuses
• उत्फुल्ल-पद्मानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्फुल्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया बहुवचन; विशेष्य-समास (as ‘bloomed lotuses’)

• वीजयन्: fanning
• वीजयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन; कर्तरि

• मलय-अनिलैः: with Malaya breezes
• मलय-अनिलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मलय (प्रातिपदिक) + अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘Malaya’s winds’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• यत्नात्: with effort
• यत्नात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘from effort/with effort’

• सुगन्धीनि: fragrant
• सुगन्धीनि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुगन्धिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (of सरांसि/पद्मानि)

• अकरोत्: made
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अतीव: exceedingly
• अतीव: Visheshana (विशेषण-भाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अतीव (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/तीव्रतावाचक-अव्यय (intensifying adverb)

• गिरिश-आश्रमे: in Giriśa’s hermitage
• गिरिश-आश्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिश (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘Giriśa’s hermitage’); पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन (Locative singular)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Evokes the ideal of approaching Śiva’s āśrama/kshetra with inner and outer purity; the sanctified environment mirrors the sattvic condition conducive to śiva-bhakti and śiva-jñāna.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that where Śiva (Pati) is present, even nature becomes refined—fragrance, calm waters, and blossoming lotuses symbolize inner purity and sattva that support bhakti and meditation, aligning the devotee (paśu) toward liberation.

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

By portraying Girīśa’s āśrama as naturally sanctified, the text points to Saguna Śiva’s grace made tangible in the world—devotees similarly sanctify the Linga’s surroundings with fragrance, cleanliness, and reverent order, treating the worship-space as Śiva’s own abode.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Create a serene, pure worship setting—clean the space, offer fragrant flowers, and sit for japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a calm, sattvic environment; the verse implicitly supports dhyāna aided by sacred atmosphere.