Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

देवा ऊचुः । देवदेव महादेव करुणासागर प्रभो । शीघ्रं जीवय कामं त्वं रक्ष प्राणान् रतेर्हर

Transliteration

devā ūcuḥ | devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho | śīghraṃ jīvaya kāmaṃ tvaṃ rakṣa prāṇān raterhara

Translation

The gods said: “O God of gods, O Mahādeva, O Lord—o ocean of compassion! Quickly restore Kāma to life, and protect the life-breaths of Rati, O destroyer of her beloved.”

Word by Word

• 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

• देवदेव: O God of gods
• देवदेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवदेव (प्रातिपदिक: देव + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रेष्ठ-देवः)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक: महा + देव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय

• करुणासागर: O ocean of compassion
• करुणासागर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करुणासागर (प्रातिपदिक: करुणा + सागर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/उपमान-भाव (determinative: “ocean of compassion”)

• प्रभो: O Lord
• प्रभो: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शीघ्रम्: quickly
• शीघ्रम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शीघ्रम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• जीवय: revive, make live
• जीवय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: जीवय = “make live”)

• कामम्: Kāma
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन; मध्यम-पुरुषार्थे (2nd person pronoun)

• रक्ष: protect
• रक्ष: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• प्राणान्: lives, vital breaths
• प्राणान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• रतेः: of Rati
• रतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• हर: O Hara (Śiva)
• हर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

The Devas (gods)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: devadeva mahādeva karuṇāsāgara prabho | śīghraṃ jīvaya kāmaṃ tvaṃ rakṣa prāṇān raterhara

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Rati

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama
• Rati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva as Karuṇāsāgara—an ocean of compassion—showing that even when He withdraws or dissolves (as Hara), His grace can restore and protect; destruction and renewal both arise from the same divine lordship (Pati) for cosmic balance.

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

The Devas address Śiva through personal, devotional epithets (Devadeva, Mahādeva, Prabhu), reflecting Saguna worship—approaching the Lord as a compassionate protector whose grace is sought for restoration and well-being, a key mood in Shiva Purana Linga-centered devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prayerful śaraṇāgati (seeking refuge) to Mahādeva with the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” asking for protection of prāṇa and inner steadiness; this aligns with Shaiva devotion often supported by vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to remembrance.