Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

कुवर्णनं मया प्रीत्या परस्त्र्युपरि वै कृतम् । जातो धर्मविरोधोऽत्र श्रुतिसीमा विलंघिता

Transliteration

kuvarṇanaṃ mayā prītyā parastryupari vai kṛtam | jāto dharmavirodho'tra śrutisīmā vilaṃghitā

Translation

Out of fond attachment, I have indeed spoken improperly about another man’s wife. By this, a conflict with dharma has arisen here, and the boundary set by the śruti has been transgressed.

Word by Word

• कुवर्णनम्: bad description/slander
• कुवर्णनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु + वर्णन (प्रातिपदिक); कु (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; ‘कु’ (दुष्ट/अशुभ) + वर्णन

• मया: by me
• मया: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3), एकवचन

• प्रीत्या: out of affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; हेतौ/भावे instrumental

• परस्त्री: in/with regard to another’s wife
• परस्त्री: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ‘पर’ (other’s) qualifying स्त्री

• उपरि: upon/about
• उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: देश/विषयवाचक-अव्यय (preposition-like indeclinable)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), emphasis/tradition marker

• कृतम्: done
• कृतम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; predicate ‘done’

• जातः: arisen
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जन् (धातु) → जात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; agrees with धर्मविरोधः

• धर्मविरोधः: opposition to dharma
• धर्मविरोधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + विरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘धर्मस्य विरोधः’ (genitive tatpuruṣa)

• अत्र: here/in this
• अत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (here/in this matter)

• श्रुतिसीमा: the boundary of śruti
• श्रुतिसीमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति + सीमा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘श्रुतेः सीमा’ (limit set by Veda)

• विलङ्घिता: transgressed
• विलङ्घिता: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + लङ्घ् (धातु) → विलङ्घित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; passive/predicative ‘has been transgressed’

Speaker

Parvati (inferred, within the Parvati Khanda narrative as a first-person confession of dharma-transgression)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

It highlights that even subtle ethical lapses—especially speech driven by attachment—create dharma-virodha (inner and outer disharmony), and spiritual progress in Shaiva tradition requires purity of intention, speech, and conduct.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship emphasizes śuddhi (purification). This verse reinforces that devotion is not only ritual but also moral discipline—restraining harmful speech and honoring dharma, which stabilizes the mind for true Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vāg-śuddhi (purifying speech): before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” observe restraint, avoid disparaging talk, and offer a brief repentance-prayer to Shiva, aligning one’s conduct with śruti and dharma.