Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

वामभागे स्थितं कामं ददर्शाकृष्टबाणकम् । स्वशरं क्षेप्तुकामं हि गर्वितं मूढचेतसम्

Transliteration

vāmabhāge sthitaṃ kāmaṃ dadarśākṛṣṭabāṇakam | svaśaraṃ kṣeptukāmaṃ hi garvitaṃ mūḍhacetasam

Translation

Then he saw Kāma standing on the left side, his arrow already drawn—eager to release his own shaft, puffed up with pride and deluded in mind.

Word by Word

• वामभागे: on the left side
• वामभागे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; ‘वामस्य भागे’ (left side)

• स्थितम्: standing/placed
• स्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → स्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; qualifies कामम्

• कामम्: Kāma (god of desire)
• कामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• आकृष्टबाणकम्: with arrow drawn
• आकृष्टबाणकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ + कृश् (धातु) → आकृष्ट (कृदन्त) + बाणक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; qualifies कामम्; समासः—‘आकृष्टः बाणकः यस्य’ (having drawn arrow) (bahuvrīhi-sense, but form as tatpuruṣa-like participial compound)

• स्वशरम्: his own arrow
• स्वशरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘स्वस्य शरम्’

• क्षेप्तुकामम्: wishing to shoot
• क्षेप्तुकामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) → क्षेप्तु (तुमुन्-अन्त) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; ‘क्षेप्तुम् कामः’ = desirous to shoot; qualifies कामम्

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), explanatory/indeed

• गर्वितम्: proud
• गर्वितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गर्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; qualifies कामम्

• मूढचेतसम्: one whose mind is deluded
• मूढचेतसम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मूढ + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—‘मूढं चेतः यस्य सः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how desire (Kāma), fueled by pride and delusion, tries to strike the aspirant; in Shaiva thought, such impulses are part of pāśa (bondage) that must be transcended through Shiva-oriented awareness and steadiness.

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

Kāma’s attempted “arrow” symbolizes distraction from Shiva’s contemplation; worship of the Liṅga (Saguna focus leading to Nirguna realization) trains the mind to return to Pati (Shiva) rather than follow the movements of desire.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, using the moment desire arises to re-anchor attention in Shiva and cultivate dispassion.