Shloka 18

अनरण्य-वंशवर्णनम् तथा पिप्पलादस्य कामोत्पत्तिः

Genealogy of King Anaraṇya and Pippalāda’s arousal of desire

Devanagari script

कामात्सर्वं गृहीत्वा च ययाचे कन्यकां मुनिः । मौनी बभूव नृपतिः किञ्चिनिर्वक्तुमक्षमः

Transliteration

kāmātsarvaṃ gṛhītvā ca yayāce kanyakāṃ muniḥ | maunī babhūva nṛpatiḥ kiñcinirvaktumakṣamaḥ

Translation

Then the sage—stirred by desire—accepted everything and asked for the maiden. The king, however, fell silent, unable to utter a single word.

Word by Word

• कामात्: out of desire
• कामात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (ablative of cause)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• गृहीत्वा: having taken
• गृहीत्वा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया; धातु: ग्रह् (to take)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ययाचे: begged/asked
• ययाचे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कन्यकाम्: the maiden/daughter
• कन्यकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• मौनी: silent
• मौनी: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मौनिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नृपतिः: the king
• नृपतिः: Kartā (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन

• किञ्चित्: anything
• किञ्चित्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किञ्चित् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; अनिश्चित-प्रमाण (indefinite)

• निर्वक्तुम्: to speak out
• निर्वक्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + वच् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), उद्देश्य/शक्यता (purpose/ability)

• अक्षमः: unable
• अक्षमः: Kartṛ-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• a sage (muni)
• a king (nṛpati)
• the maiden (kanyakā)

FAQs

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

It highlights how kāma (desire) can cloud judgment and create moral conflict, while the king’s mauna (silence) reflects inner turmoil—pointing toward the Shaiva ideal of mastering desire through dharma and devotion to Pati (Shiva), the liberating Lord.

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

The narrative contrasts human impulse with the need for restraint; in Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee offers impulses and attachments into Shiva’s presence, seeking purification of kāma and steadiness of mind through bhakti and disciplined conduct.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mauna (vow of silence) and japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namah Shivaya”—are implied as practical disciplines to calm desire and regain clarity; observances like Mahashivratri vrata can reinforce this inner restraint.