Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37
कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva
मुनेऽथ मां समाभाष्य तान् दृष्ट्वा मदनो गणान् । उवाच वारयन् ब्रह्मन्गणानामग्रतः स्मरः
mune'tha māṃ samābhāṣya tān dṛṣṭvā madano gaṇān | uvāca vārayan brahmangaṇānāmagrataḥ smaraḥ
O Weiser, dann sprach Kāma (Smara), nachdem er mich angesprochen und jene Gaṇas erblickt hatte; er hielt sie zurück, indem er vor der Schar der Gaṇas stand, o Brahmane.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; addressing the listener as 'mune/brahman')
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhairava
FAQs
It highlights how kāma (desire) must be restrained and made subordinate when approaching the sphere of Śiva—symbolized by the gaṇas—teaching that inner impulses should be disciplined in the presence of the Divine.
The gaṇas represent the protected, ordered domain of Saguna Śiva; the verse implies that one should approach Śiva’s worship with control of desire and reverence, rather than impulsiveness or agitation.
Practice mental restraint (saṃyama) before pūjā—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a calm, disciplined approach, as desire-driven restlessness is to be checked.