Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

तवानुगमने कर्म मुख्यमेषां मनोभव । सहायिनो भविष्यंति सदा तव न संशयः

Transliteration

tavānugamane karma mukhyameṣāṃ manobhava | sahāyino bhaviṣyaṃti sadā tava na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

O Manobhava (Kāma), ihre vornehmste Pflicht ist es, deiner Führung zu folgen; sie werden stets deine Helfer sein — daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अनुगमने: in following (you)
• अनुगमने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/in regard to)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anugamana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• कर्म: the task/duty
• कर्म: Karta (कर्ता/subject: 'the task')
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मुख्यम्: principal/primary
• मुख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying karma)

• एषाम्: of these (people)
• एषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• मनोभव: O Manobhava (Kāma)
• मनोभव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manobhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

• सहायिनः: helpers/allies
• सहायिनः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sahāyin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• भविष्यन्ति: will be
• भविष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सदा: always
• सदा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• न: not/no
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/subject: 'doubt')
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (as inferred within the Satī Khaṇḍa dialogue addressing Kāma/Manobhava)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Manobhava)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that even forces like desire (Kāma/Manobhava) and their attendants operate under a higher divine ordinance; in Shaiva thought, all powers ultimately serve Pati (Śiva), and their actions become instruments within the cosmic order.

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

It reinforces Saguna Shiva as the personal Lord who governs all functional powers (including kāma). Worship of the Liṅga honors Shiva as the supreme controller, reminding devotees that worldly impulses are subordinate to His grace and command.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mastery of desire through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady devotion—so that impulses become disciplined rather than binding.