Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचश्शंभोर्देवा ऊचुः प्रणम्य तम् । किंचिदुच्छ्वसिताश्चित्ते करौ बद्ध्वा नतांगकाः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti śrutvā vacaśśaṃbhordevā ūcuḥ praṇamya tam | kiṃciducchvasitāścitte karau baddhvā natāṃgakāḥ

Translation

Brahmā said: Having thus heard Śambhu’s words, the gods spoke after bowing to Him. Their hearts somewhat relieved, they stood with joined palms, their bodies bent in reverence.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative/particle)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• वचः: the words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• शंभोः: of Śambhu
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नम् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थक अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• किंचित्: a little, somewhat
• किंचित्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किंचित् (अव्यय/सर्वनाम-नपुंसक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (indeclinable usage), परिमाण/अल्पता-बोधक (a little, somewhat)

• उच्छ्वसिताः: having breathed out / relieved
• उच्छ्वसिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘देवाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• चित्ते: in (their) mind
• चित्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/State)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन; अवस्थावाचक (state)

• करौ: (their) two hands
• करौ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• बद्ध्वा: having joined/bound (together)
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—क्त्वा-प्रत्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• नताङ्गकाः: with bowed bodies / bowing-limbed
• नताङ्गकाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नताङ्गक (प्रातिपदिक: नत + अङ्गक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास; ‘देवाः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Devas

FAQs

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

It highlights that even the devas find peace only by hearing Śiva’s truth and taking refuge in Him; humility (namaskāra) and inner surrender open the heart to Śiva’s grace.

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

The verse models Saguna-bhakti: approaching Śambhu as the personal Lord, bowing with folded hands and reverence—an attitude central to Linga-worship where the devotee meets Śiva through a tangible focus of devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice namaskāra with añjali (folded palms) and steady the mind by recalling Śiva’s words; as a simple daily sādhana, repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with the same attitude of reverent surrender.