Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

स साधुवादं तान् सर्वान्विहस्य च पुनः पुनः । उवाचेदं मुनिश्रेष्ठ लज्जयन् वृषभध्वजः

Transliteration

sa sādhuvādaṃ tān sarvānvihasya ca punaḥ punaḥ | uvācedaṃ muniśreṣṭha lajjayan vṛṣabhadhvajaḥ

Translation

O best of sages, the Bull-bannered Lord (Śiva), smiling again and again at the praise offered by them all, spoke these words with humility, as though abashed.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द (pronoun)

• साधुवादम्: praise/approval
• साधुवादम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधुवाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• विहस्य: having laughed (at)
• विहस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having laughed/mocked’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: repetition)

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/आवृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: repetition)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इदम्: this (speech/statement)
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: O best of sages
• मुनिश्रेष्ठ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + श्रेष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (munīnām śreṣṭhaḥ)

• लज्जयन्: shaming/causing to be ashamed
• लज्जयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लज्ज् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वृषभध्वजः: the one whose banner is the bull (Śiva)
• वृषभध्वजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृषभ + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (yasya dhvajaḥ vṛṣabhaḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva’s līlā of humility: though Pati (the Supreme Lord) is beyond all need, He accepts devotees’ sincere praise and responds gently, teaching that true greatness is free from pride and rooted in grace.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s approachable nature—He receives stuti (praise) and then speaks for devotees’ upliftment. In Liṅga-worship too, the devotee offers praise and the Lord, though transcendent, becomes present and responsive through compassionate manifestation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stuti with bhāva: recite Śiva-stotras or the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with humility, then sit briefly in quiet listening (śravaṇa-bhāva), cultivating modesty and receptivity like the Lord’s own demeanor.