Shloka 41
कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility
हृत्वा प्रास्य समुद्रं तं शंबरो दानवोत्तमः । मृतं ज्ञात्वा वृथा मूढो नगरं स्वं गमिष्यति
hṛtvā prāsya samudraṃ taṃ śaṃbaro dānavottamaḥ | mṛtaṃ jñātvā vṛthā mūḍho nagaraṃ svaṃ gamiṣyati
Having seized him and cast him into the ocean, Śambara—the foremost of the Dānavas—will, thinking him dead, return in vain and deluded to his own city.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It highlights moha (delusion) as the hallmark of adharma: the demon believes his violence has succeeded, yet his effort becomes vṛthā (fruitless). In Shaiva thought, Pati (Śiva) ultimately overrules hostile forces and turns them into occasions for dharma and protection.
Though the Linga is not named here, the narrative reflects Saguna Śiva’s role as protector and governor of results (karma-phala-dātā). Devotional reliance on Śiva-Linga worship is traditionally presented as taking refuge in the Lord whose will can nullify demonic intent.
A practical takeaway is to counter moha and fear through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and steady bhakti; this aligns the mind with Śiva as protector and dispels the delusion that worldly threats are ultimate.