Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

सुविचारय सुप्रीत्या कृति कामस्य शंकर । कामेनैतत्कृतं यत्र न स्वार्थं तन्महेश्वर

Transliteration

suvicāraya suprītyā kṛti kāmasya śaṃkara | kāmenaitatkṛtaṃ yatra na svārthaṃ tanmaheśvara

Translation

O Śaṅkara, with calm discernment and kindly understanding, consider this deed of Kāma. Though done by Kāma, it was not for his own selfish gain, O Maheśvara.

Word by Word

• सु-विचारय: consider well
• सु-विचारय: क्रिया (क्रिया/Request)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-चर् (धातु) → विचारयति (णिच्)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/लोट्), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada); उपसर्ग ‘सु’ (well)

• सु-प्रीत्या: with great affection
• सु-प्रीत्या: करण (करणम्/Instrument or manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय/उपसर्ग) + प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); ‘सु’ उपपद-विशेषणार्थे (very/with good will)

• कृति: O doer/agent (address)
• कृति: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); सम्भाव्यतः ‘कृते’ इत्यर्थे पाठभेदः—अत्र सम्बोधनरूपेण ग्रहणम्

• कामस्य: of Kāma
• कामस्य: सम्बन्ध (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• शंकर: O Śaṅkara
• शंकर: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• कामेन: by Kāma
• कामेन: करण (करणम्/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: कर्म (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विशेषण (demonstrative) कृतम् इत्यस्य

• कृतम्: was done
• कृतम्: क्रिया (क्रिया/Predicative)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP) ‘कृत’; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); विधेय (predicative)

• यत्र: wherein
• यत्र: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्ध/Relative connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक-अव्यय (relative adverb: where/wherein)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (निषेध/Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• स्व-अर्थम्: one’s own interest
• स्व-अर्थम्: कर्म (कर्म/Object; ‘own benefit’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); कर्मधारय/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (स्वस्य अर्थः)

• तत्: that/therefore
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (सम्बन्ध/Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन (Singular), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter); अन्वयार्थे (correlative: then/that)

• महेश्वर: O Maheśvara
• महेश्वर: सम्बोधन (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine)

Speaker

Parvati

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kama

FAQs

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

It teaches viveka (clear discernment) joined with karuṇā (compassion): even when desire (kāma) appears as a cause of disturbance, one should judge intention and purpose, and let divine awareness transform passion rather than act from reactive anger.

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

Śiva as Saguna Maheśvara embodies both justice and mercy; devotees approach the Liṅga seeking inner purification where impulses like kāma are not merely suppressed but offered and transmuted into devotion under Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mindful discernment before action and redirect desire through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), mentally offering agitating impulses into Śiva’s presence for purification.