Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

मन्दरगिरिवर्णनम् — Description of Mount Mandara as Śiva’s Residence

Tapas-abode

Devanagari script

पृथग्जनानां रतये कामात्मा कल्पितो मया । ततः कथमुपालब्धः कामदाहादहं त्वया

Transliteration

pṛthagjanānāṃ rataye kāmātmā kalpito mayā | tataḥ kathamupālabdhaḥ kāmadāhādahaṃ tvayā

Translation

Zum Wohlgefallen und zur Vereinigung der weltlichen Wesen habe Ich in der Schöpfung das Prinzip Kāma (Begehren) eingesetzt. Wenn dem so ist, wie kannst du Mich wegen der Verbrennung Kāmas tadeln—wie könntest du Mich dafür beschuldigen, dass er zu Asche wurde?

Word by Word

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• जनानाम्: of people
• जनानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/षष्ठी), बहुवचन (plural)

• रतये: for pleasure/delight
• रतये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/चतुर्थी), एकवचन (singular)

• कामात्मा: one whose nature is desire (Kāma)
• कामात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'whose nature is kāma')

• कल्पितः: was fashioned/created
• कल्पितः: Karma (कर्म/Object in passive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कॢप् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (passive sense)

• मया: by me
• मया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), त्रितीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

• ततः: therefore/then
• ततः: Hetu/Anantara (हेतु/अनन्तर-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रयोगः (adverb): कारण/अनन्तर (therefore/then)

• कथम्: how
• कथम्: Prashna (प्रश्न/Interrogative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb)

• उपालब्धः: was perceived/recognized
• उपालब्धः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject of passive predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + √लभ् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-भावः (passive)

• कामदाहात्: from the burning of Kāma
• कामदाहात्: Apādāna (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कामदाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/पञ्चमी), एकवचन (singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ('burning of Kāma')

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (singular)

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), तृतीया विभक्ति (Instrumental/तृतीया), एकवचन (singular)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kama

FAQs

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

It distinguishes cosmic function from spiritual liberation: desire may operate within creation for worldly continuity, yet for the seeker of Shiva, kāma must be mastered, because attachment is a pasha (bond) that obstructs realization of Pati (Shiva).

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

The burning of Kāma is a Shaiva symbol of Saguna Shiva’s grace that subdues the tyranny of desire; Linga-worship trains the mind to turn from sense-driven craving toward steady devotion and inner purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with restraint of the senses, and meditate on Shiva as the inner witness who burns kāma as attachment, not as a mere natural impulse.