Shloka 51
कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva
इत्याकर्ण्य वचः कामः प्रोवाच वचनं पुनः । देवर्षे गौरवं मत्वा प्रणम्य विनयेन माम्
ityākarṇya vacaḥ kāmaḥ provāca vacanaṃ punaḥ | devarṣe gauravaṃ matvā praṇamya vinayena mām
Nachdem er diese Worte gehört hatte, sprach Kama erneut. In Anerkennung des ehrwürdigen Status des göttlichen Weisen verneigte er sich demütig vor mir und sprach mich respektvoll an.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Sati Khanda dialogue, reporting Kāma’s respectful address to the devarṣi)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse highlights vinaya (humility) and guru/devarṣi-gourava (reverence to realized sages) as essential dispositions for receiving dharma and Shaiva insight—qualities that purify desire and align the mind toward Shiva.
Although the verse is narrative, it supports a key Shaiva practice-principle: approaching Shiva’s worship (including Linga-upasana) with humility and respectful conduct, which is foundational for fruitful saguna-bhakti and receiving instruction on rites and meanings.
The implied takeaway is to begin worship with pranama and vinaya—salutation to Shiva and to the teacher/sage—then proceed with disciplined japa (such as the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) in a reverential, ego-softened state.