Shloka 6
कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva
कृत्वा प्रणामं विधये मह्यं गद्गदया गिरा । उवाच मदनो मां चोदासीनो विमदो मुने
kṛtvā praṇāmaṃ vidhaye mahyaṃ gadgadayā girā | uvāca madano māṃ codāsīno vimado mune
O Weiser, daraufhin erwies Madana (Kāma) dem Ordner (Brahmā) und auch mir seine Verneigung und sprach mit stockender Stimme; er stand beiseite, frei von Hochmut.
Brahma (Vidhātā), narrated within Sūta’s discourse
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the focus is on submission (praṇāma) and the softening of ego (mada-nivṛtti) before higher ordinance (Brahmā) and the Supreme (Śiva).
Significance: Models the pilgrim’s inner posture: humility before Śiva and guru-like cosmic authorities; encourages śaraṇāgati as prerequisite for grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse emphasizes the Shaiva virtue of egoless reverence: even powerful deities act with humility (vimada) and offer pranama, showing that surrender to divine order is foundational for spiritual progress.
Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship begins with the inner posture shown here—pranama, soft speech, and absence of pride—because devotion (bhakti) is considered effective when the ego is subdued and reverence is primary.
It suggests beginning worship with pranama and an attitude of humility; in practice this aligns with offering salutations before japa (e.g., Panchakshara mantra) and entering meditation with a softened, non-egoic mind.