Shloka 24

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

सापि तैर्वीक्ष्यमाणाथ कंदर्पशरपातनात् । चक्रे मुहुर्मुहुर्भावान्कटाक्षावरणादिकान्

Transliteration

sāpi tairvīkṣyamāṇātha kaṃdarpaśarapātanāt | cakre muhurmuhurbhāvānkaṭākṣāvaraṇādikān

Translation

And she too, being watched by them, struck by the falling arrows of Kāma, again and again displayed the tender moods of love—casting sidelong glances and then veiling them in modesty, and the like.

Word by Word

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (Nom, 1st), Ekavacana; ‘she’

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya/anuvṛtti particle (‘also/even’)

• taiḥ: by them
• taiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (or napuṃ), Tṛtīyā (Instr, 3rd), Bahuvacana; ‘by them’

• vīkṣyamāṇā: being looked at
• vīkṣyamāṇā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √īkṣ (धातु) with vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Present passive participle (शानच्/मान), ‘vīkṣyamāṇa’; Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘being looked at’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; discourse particle (then/now)

• kandarpashara-pātanāt: from the shooting of Cupid’s arrows
• kandarpashara-pātanāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु; causal source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक) + śara (प्रातिपदिक) + pātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsaka/puṃliṅga (pātana as action-noun), Pañcamī (Abl, 5th), Ekavacana; समासः—षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः ‘कन्दर्पस्य शराणां पातनम्’ (the shooting of Cupid’s arrows)

• cakre: she made/produced
• cakre: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana; Parasmaipada; ‘did/made’

• muhuḥ: repeatedly
• muhuḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb ‘again and again’ (one occurrence)

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; repetition for intensification

• bhāvān: emotions/states
• bhāvān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Bahuvacana; ‘states/emotions’

• kaṭākṣa-āvaraṇa-ādikān: such as veiling (with) side-glances, etc.
• kaṭākṣa-āvaraṇa-ādikān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kaṭākṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + ka (प्रातिपदिक, suffix in -ka)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā (Acc, 2nd), Bahuvacana; समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘कटाक्षस्य आवरणम्’ (covering/veiling of side-glances) + ‘आदि’ (etc.) → ‘-ādika’ (and the like) qualifying bhāvān

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

It portrays how even powerful emotions like kāma arise as bhāvas, yet in a purified, dharmic form—tempered by modesty—hinting that the inner mind can be refined and ultimately oriented toward the highest devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

By describing bhāva (inner feeling), the verse supports the Purāṇic emphasis that Saguna worship—such as devotion to Śiva in the form of the Liṅga—becomes fruitful when the heart’s emotions are sincere, restrained, and transformed into reverent love rather than mere sensuality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is bhāva-śuddhi (purifying emotion): steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with mindful restraint of the senses, so that desire is sublimated into devotion (bhakti) rather than agitation.