Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

लतास्सर्वास्सुमनसो दधुरंकुरसंचयान् । वृक्षांकं चिरभावेन वेष्टयंति स्म तत्र च

Transliteration

latāssarvāssumanaso dadhuraṃkurasaṃcayān | vṛkṣāṃkaṃ cirabhāvena veṣṭayaṃti sma tatra ca

Translation

Dort trieben alle Schlingpflanzen, als wären sie froh und wohlgesinnt, Büschel frischer Sprosse; und in lang anhaltender Zuneigung umwanden sie die Stämme der Bäume.

Word by Word

• लताः: creepers
• लताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण (of लताः)

• सुमनसः: lovely/pleasing
• सुमनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण (pleasant-minded/beautiful)

• दधुः: bore/held
• दधुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्शभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अङ्कुर-सञ्चयान्: clusters of sprouts
• अङ्कुर-सञ्चयान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्कुर (प्रातिपदिक) + सञ्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘clusters of sprouts’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• वृक्ष-अङ्कम्: the tree-trunk
• वृक्ष-अङ्कम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘the trunk/side of the tree’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• चिर-भावेन: for a long time / with long continuance
• चिर-भावेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चिर (प्रातिपदिक) + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘long-standing state/for a long time’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन (Instrumental singular; adverbial)

• वेष्टयन्ति: they entwine
• वेष्टयन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वेष्ट् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान/Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• स्म: indeed/used to
• स्म: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्म (अव्यय)
• Form: भूतार्थक/स्मरणार्थक-अव्यय; लट्-क्रियायाः भूतार्थत्वं सूचयति (particle indicating past/habitual)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Nature’s fecundity around Śiva’s abode functions as a kṣetra-lakṣaṇa (sign of sacred space), encouraging pilgrims to cultivate ‘sumanas’ (pure mind) as the true offering.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

FAQs

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

Nature is portrayed as inwardly responsive to dharma and divine presence—creepers and trees mirror the harmony that arises when the world aligns with Śiva’s grace, suggesting that the cosmos itself participates in auspiciousness.

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

Though the verse is descriptive, it supports the Purāṇic theme that Saguna Śiva’s manifest presence sanctifies a place; such auspicious natural signs are traditionally read as indicators of a fit setting for worship, including Liṅga-pūjā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests cultivating a sattvic, reverent atmosphere for devotion—quiet japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and mindful worship in a clean, peaceful place, letting the mind ‘cling’ to Śiva as the creeper clings to the tree.