Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

मरीचिप्रमुखा षड् वै निगृहीतेन्द्रियक्रियाः । ऋते क्रतुं वसिष्ठं च पुलस्त्यांगिरसौ तथा

Transliteration

marīcipramukhā ṣaḍ vai nigṛhītendriyakriyāḥ | ṛte kratuṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca pulastyāṃgirasau tathā

Translation

Indeed, the six sages headed by Marīci had restrained the operations of their senses; Pulastya and Aṅgiras too had done likewise—except for Kratu and Vasiṣṭha.

Word by Word

• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: (the sages) headed by Marīci
• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“मरीचिः प्रमुखः येषाम्” (group headed by Marīci)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्/षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे; अव्ययवत् रूपम् (numeral: “six”)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• निगृहीत-इन्द्रिय-क्रियाः: having restrained the activities of the senses
• निगृहीत-इन्द्रिय-क्रियाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“निगृहीता इन्द्रियक्रिया येषाम्” (whose sense-activities are restrained)

• ऋते: except
• ऋते: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: वर्जनार्थक-अव्यय; पञ्चमी/द्वितीयासमानार्थक-प्रयोगः (except/without; governs accusative here)

• क्रतुम्: Kratu
• क्रतुम्: Apādāna (अपादान/exception-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Apādāna (अपादान/exception-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• पुलस्त्य-आङ्गिरसौ: Pulastya and Āṅgirasa
• पुलस्त्य-आङ्गिरसौ: Apādāna (अपादान/exception-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (copulative: Pulastya and Āṅgirasa)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्य/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb/particle: “also/likewise”)

Speaker

Sūta Goswāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Marīci
• Kratu
• Vasiṣṭha
• Pulastya
• Aṅgiras

FAQs

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

It highlights indriya-nigraha (restraint of the senses) as a foundational discipline that purifies the seeker, making the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha) that leads toward moksha.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is presented as most fruitful when supported by inner purity; controlling the senses steadies attention so the devotee can worship Saguna Shiva with one-pointedness, allowing the Linga to become a doorway to realizing Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined sense-restraint alongside regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and vrata-like self-control—practices often paired with Shiva worship (such as calm meditation, purity, and simple living).