Shloka 48

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

कामदेवः कामपालो भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहः भस्मप्रियो भस्मशायी कामी कान्तः कृतागमः

Transliteration

kāmadevaḥ kāmapālo bhasmoddhūlitavigrahaḥ bhasmapriyo bhasmaśāyī kāmī kāntaḥ kṛtāgamaḥ

Translation

He is Kāmadeva, the very divinity of desire, and Kāmapāla, the protector and governor of desire. His form is dusted with bhasma, the sacred ash; He loves ash and rests upon ash. He is the enjoyer who masters desire, the Beloved who enchants all hearts, and the Lord who established the Āgamas—authoritative Shaiva revelations guiding worship and liberation.

Word by Word

• कामदेवः: the godhead presiding over desire (desire’s divine principle)

• कामपालः: protector/regulator of desire

• भस्मोद्धूलित-विग्रहः: whose body/form is smeared with sacred ash

• भस्मप्रियः: fond of sacred ash

• भस्मशायी: one who lies/reposes on ash (sign of dispassion and transcendence)

• कामी: the enjoyer/one possessing desire (as sovereign, not as bound)

• कान्तः: the beloved/beautiful one

• कृतागमः: the establisher/composer of the Āgamas (Shaiva scriptures)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It highlights Shiva’s Agamic authority (kṛtāgamaḥ) and the central Shaiva marker of bhasma (vibhuti), both foundational to Linga-puja as a discipline of purification, renunciation, and right ritual.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is shown as Pati—the sovereign of kama, not a pashu bound by it—signified by ash (bhasma) that reduces all to impermanence, while also being the revealer of liberating scripture (Āgama).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The practice of wearing/applying sacred ash (bhasma-dhāraṇa) and living with dispassion, paired with Agama-guided worship—methods aligned with Pashupata discipline for weakening pasha (bondage) rooted in desire.