Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा तथाविधा दक्षमरीचिप्रमुखाश्च माम् । संध्यां च कर्मणि निजे श्रद्दधे मदनस्तदा

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā tathāvidhā dakṣamarīcipramukhāśca mām | saṃdhyāṃ ca karmaṇi nije śraddadhe madanastadā

Translation

Seeing me in that condition, Dakṣa and the sages headed by Marīci became intent on their own sandhyā worship and prescribed rites; at that time Madana (Kāma) too applied himself to his appointed task.

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (gerund/absolutive): ‘having seen’

• तथा-विधाः: of such a kind
• तथा-विधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा (अव्यय) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (masc. nom. pl.)

• दक्ष-मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: those headed by Dakṣa and Marīci
• दक्ष-मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (masc. nom. pl.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• संध्याम्: Sandhyā
• संध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (fem. acc. sg.)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• कर्मणि: in the act/rite
• कर्मणि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन (neut. loc. sg.)

• निजे: in his own
• निजे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण (neut. loc. sg.)

• श्रद्दधे: placed faith/trusted
• श्रद्दधे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रद्-धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (3rd sg. perfect)

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (masc. nom. sg.)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikarana/Time (अधिकरण/काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Marichi
• Madana (Kama)

FAQs

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

The verse contrasts outward ritual certainty (sandhyā and karma) with the deeper Shaiva aim of inner steadiness; it shows how worldly forces like Kāma operate when minds rely chiefly on external duty rather than inward union with Śiva.

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

By highlighting sandhyā and prescribed rites, the verse points to conventional dharma; Shaiva practice elevates this through devotion to Saguna Śiva (including Liṅga worship), transforming ritual into God-centered bhakti rather than mere formality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It directly suggests regular Sandhyā worship and faithful performance of one’s daily rites; in a Shaiva frame, these are best supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and steady remembrance of Śiva to restrain Kāma.