Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49
विष्णुचेष्टितवर्णनम् / Account of Viṣṇu’s Stratagem and Its Aftermath
दृष्ट्वा स याचते मोहात्कामासक्तेन चेतसा । तं चापि तुलसी धात्री रागेणैवावलोकताम्
dṛṣṭvā sa yācate mohātkāmāsaktena cetasā | taṃ cāpi tulasī dhātrī rāgeṇaivāvalokatām
Als er sie erblickte, flehte er sie in Verblendung an, mit einem Geist, der an Begierde gefesselt war; und auch Tulasī—Dhātrī, die Erhalterin—blickte ihn nur mit Anhaftung an.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa
Shakti Form: Tārā
Role: liberating
FAQs
It highlights how moha (delusion) and raga-kama (attachment and desire) become pasha (bondage) that clouds discernment, obstructing devotion and the soul’s movement toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation.
By contrasting desire-driven perception with purified seeing, it implies that Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upasana) is meant to refine the mind from raga into bhakti, so the devotee approaches Shiva with reverence rather than craving.
Cultivate vairagya through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mind-restraint; supporting disciplines like Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha are traditionally used to steady the senses and reduce kama-driven agitation.