Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

धैर्यस्य व्यसनं दृष्ट्वा महायोगी महेश्वरः । विचिंतितं मनस्येवं विस्मितोऽतिततः परम्

Transliteration

dhairyasya vyasanaṃ dṛṣṭvā mahāyogī maheśvaraḥ | viciṃtitaṃ manasyevaṃ vismito'titataḥ param

Translation

Seeing that steadfast composure (dhairya) itself had fallen into distress, Mahāyogī Maheśvara turned inward in reflection; in his heart he pondered thus, and was astonished beyond measure.

Word by Word

• धैर्यस्य: of firmness/patience
• धैर्यस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धैर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; Genitive singular

• व्यसनम्: misfortune/distress
• व्यसनम्: कर्म (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial of prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• महायोगी: the great yogi
• महायोगी: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• महेश्वरः: Maheshvara (Great Lord)
• महेश्वरः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject; apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• विचिन्तितम्: pondered/considered
• विचिन्तितम्: भाव (अवस्था/State predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + चिन्त् (धातु) → विचिन्तित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; agreeing with ‘मनस्’ (locative context)

• मनसि: in (his) mind
• मनसि: अधिकरण (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; Locative singular

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

• विस्मितः: astonished
• विस्मितः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि + स्मि (धातु) → विस्मित (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (PPP used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; Nominative singular

• अतिततः: exceedingly stretched/extended (i.e., greatly affected)
• अतिततः: विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + तन् (धातु) → अतितत (कृदन्त/क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (qualifying the subject)

• परम्: greatly/very much
• परम्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial intensifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययप्रयोग (adverbial accusative/indeclinable usage)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s role as the supreme Yogin who observes even the collapse of ordinary “mental fortitude” and responds with profound inner inquiry—pointing to Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on transforming distress through awareness and divine discernment rather than agitation.

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

By portraying Maheśvara as personally present and responsive, it supports Saguna devotion—worship of Śiva in form (including the Liṅga) as the compassionate Lord who guides devotees through crises toward steadiness and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse suggests antaḥ-cintana (inner contemplation): steady japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with breath-awareness, supported by simple Śaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa to cultivate calm when patience is tested.