Shloka 40

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

Devanagari script

यथा माता च भगिनी भ्रातृपत्नी तथा सुता । एतः कुदृष्ट्या द्रष्टव्या न कदापि विपश्चिता

Transliteration

yathā mātā ca bhaginī bhrātṛpatnī tathā sutā | etaḥ kudṛṣṭyā draṣṭavyā na kadāpi vipaścitā

Translation

Just as one regards one’s mother, sister, brother’s wife, and daughter, so too should a wise person never look upon these women with a corrupt or lustful gaze.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle)

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• भगिनी: sister
• भगिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भ्रातृपत्नी: brother’s wife
• भ्रातृपत्नी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ + पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘brother’s wife’)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्यतावाचक-अव्यय (correlative: ‘so/likewise’)

• सुता: daughter
• सुता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘these’ (referring to the women mentioned)

• कुदृष्ट्या: with an evil gaze
• कुदृष्ट्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कु + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/instrumental), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘bad’ + ‘look’)

• द्रष्टव्याः: to be looked at/should be viewed
• द्रष्टव्याः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/future passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयः ‘should be looked at’ (negated later)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)

• कदापि: ever
• कदापि: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदा + अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb) ‘ever/at any time’

• विपश्चिता: a wise person
• विपश्चिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/nominative), एकवचन; ‘wise (woman)’

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it functions as a dharma-śikṣā (ethical injunction) within the Satīkhaṇḍa narrative, emphasizing purity of dṛṣṭi (gaze) as a prerequisite for higher Śaiva discipline.

Significance: General upadeśa: purity of perception supports śiva-bhakti and yogic steadiness; restraining lust is presented as protection against bondage (pāśa).

FAQs

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

It teaches dṛṣṭi-śuddhi (purity of perception): the wise restrain lustful vision and cultivate reverence, supporting inner cleanliness (śauca) and steadiness needed for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

Linga worship emphasizes inner purity and mastery of the senses; restraining corrupt gaze aligns the devotee’s mind toward Saguna Shiva with devotion and toward the Linga as the symbol of transcendent purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is a vrata of sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha), supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and mindful guarding of the eyes as part of daily discipline.