Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

एतस्मिन्नंतरे तत्र देवाश्शक्रादयोऽखिलाः । रतिमूचुस्समाश्वास्य संस्मरंतो महेश्वरम्

Transliteration

etasminnaṃtare tatra devāśśakrādayo'khilāḥ | ratimūcussamāśvāsya saṃsmaraṃto maheśvaram

Translation

Meanwhile, at that very time and place, all the gods—beginning with Śakra (Indra)—comforted Rati and spoke to her, as they remembered Maheśvara, Lord Śiva.

Word by Word

• etasmin: in this
• etasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• antare: in the interval, meanwhile
• antare: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of place)

• devāḥ: the gods
• devāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन

• śakra-ādayaḥ: Indra and others
• śakra-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (śakraḥ ādiḥ yeṣām)

• akhilāḥ: all, entire
• akhilāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akhila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of devāḥ/śakra-ādayaḥ)

• ratim: Rati (the goddess)
• ratim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ūcuḥ: said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• samāśvāsya: having consoled
• samāśvāsya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√śvas (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्यय; पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having consoled/encouraged)

• saṃsmarantaḥ: remembering
• saṃsmarantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ-√smṛ (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), बहुवचन; कर्तरि

• maheśvaram: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Indra
• Devas
• Rati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights smaraṇa—remembering Maheśvara—as a stabilizing spiritual act: even the devas rely on Śiva’s supreme lordship and grace, and consolation becomes grounded in remembrance of the Pati (Lord) who governs karma and liberation.

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

Remembering “Maheśvara” points to Saguna Śiva—approachable through name, form, and worship. In practice, this remembrance is commonly supported by Liṅga-upāsanā (offering, circumambulation, and prayer), turning grief into devotion-oriented refuge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A direct takeaway is japa and smaraṇa: repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while mentally recalling Maheśvara; this can be paired with simple Liṅga worship and a calm, consoling prayer for steadiness.