Shloka 43

कामप्रादुर्भावः — The Manifestation/Arising of Kāma

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इत्युक्त्वाहं सुरश्रेष्ठ स्वसुतानां मुखानि च । आलोक्य स्वासने पाद्मे प्रोपविष्टोऽभवं क्षणम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | ityuktvāhaṃ suraśreṣṭha svasutānāṃ mukhāni ca | ālokya svāsane pādme propaviṣṭo'bhavaṃ kṣaṇam

Translation

Brahmā said: Having spoken thus, O best among the gods, I looked upon the faces of my own sons; then, upon my lotus-seat, I sat down for a moment.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग); Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्) Perfect; Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; quotation/closure particle

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त); expresses prior action

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• सुरश्रेष्ठ: O best of the gods
• सुरश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: सुराणां श्रेष्ठः); Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular

• स्व-सुतानाम्: of (my) own sons
• स्व-सुतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + suta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (स्वाः सुताः); Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• मुखानि: faces
• मुखानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• आलोक्य: having looked at
• आलोक्य: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √lok (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वा-अर्थे); prior action

• स्व-आसने: on (my) own seat
• स्व-आसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (स्वम् आसनम्); Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• पाद्मे: lotus(-like); of lotus
• पाद्मे: Visheshana (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pādma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter; Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifies आसने

• प्र-उपविष्टः: sat down; became seated
• प्र-उपविष्टः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + upa + √viś (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past participle (क्त); Masculine, Nominative Singular; with अहम्; sense: ‘seated down’

• अभवम्: I became; I was
• अभवम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (लङ्) Imperfect; Parasmaipada; 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular

• क्षणम्: for a moment
• क्षणम्: Kāla-adhikarana (कालाधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine; Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; used adverbially (कालाधिकरणार्थे)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It shows Brahmā pausing after instruction—an emblem of reflective discernment (viveka) before action, reminding devotees that even cosmic authorities must contemplate dharma and the higher Lord (Pati) who transcends the created order.

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

Though the verse itself is narrative, it sits within the Rudra Saṃhitā’s Shaiva frame where Brahmā’s role is secondary to Shiva’s supremacy; such passages prepare the listener to see Saguna Shiva (and the Linga as His sign) as the ultimate refuge beyond creator-god functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is mindful pause and inward recollection before undertaking duties—supporting japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady seated posture, even if no explicit bhasma/rudrākṣa instruction appears in this specific verse.