Shloka 12

कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility

Devanagari script

सस्मार त्रिदशान्सर्वान्शक्रादीन्भयविह्वलः । स स्मरो मुनिशार्दूल स्वप्रयासे निरर्थके

Transliteration

sasmāra tridaśānsarvānśakrādīnbhayavihvalaḥ | sa smaro muniśārdūla svaprayāse nirarthake

Translation

Overwhelmed by fear, Smara (Kāma) remembered all the gods—the Devas beginning with Śakra (Indra). O tiger among sages, his own effort had become futile.

Word by Word

• सस्मार: remembered
• सस्मार: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• त्रिदशान्: the gods
• त्रिदशान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रिदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (द्विगु-भावः) “त्रयः दश” → “त्रिदश” (gods)

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषणं त्रिदशान्

• शक्र-आदीन्: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदीन्: Karma (कर्म/Object apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः “शक्रः आदिः येषाम्” = “beginning with Indra”

• भय-विह्वलः: distressed with fear
• भय-विह्वलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विह्वल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः “भयेन विह्वलः”

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• स्मरः: Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (मन्मथस्य नाम)

• मुनि-शार्दूल: O tiger among sages
• मुनि-शार्दूल: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + शार्दूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः “मुनिः शार्दूल इव” (O tiger among sages)

• स्व-प्रयासे: in his own effort
• स्व-प्रयासे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः “स्वस्य प्रयासः”

• निरर्थके: fruitless; in vain
• निरर्थके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरर्थक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; विशेषणं स्वप्रयासे

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Smara (Kama)
• Indra (Shakra)
• Devas (Tridasha)

FAQs

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

It shows that kāma (desire), when acting from self-will, becomes powerless before the supremacy of Pati (Śiva). In Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation arises not from restless personal striving but from right orientation to Shiva and His grace.

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

Smara’s fear and turning toward higher powers highlights the need for refuge in Saguna Shiva—the accessible Lord worshiped as the Liṅga—who alone subdues inner forces like desire and grants steadiness of mind.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter desire and fear through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady devotion; mentally taking refuge in Shiva is the inner discipline implied by Smara’s moment of collapse.