Shloka 61

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

Devanagari script

अथ शंकरवाक्येन लज्जितोहं पितामहः । कंदर्प्पायाकोपिंत हि भ्रुकुटीकुटिलाननः

Transliteration

atha śaṃkaravākyena lajjitohaṃ pitāmahaḥ | kaṃdarppāyākopiṃta hi bhrukuṭīkuṭilānanaḥ

Translation

Then, stung with shame by Śaṅkara’s words, I—Pitāmaha (Brahmā)—became wrathful toward Kāma; my face contorted, my brows knit into a crooked frown.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आरम्भ/अनन्तर (particle: then/now)

• शंकर: of Śaṅkara
• शंकर: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध (genitive relation) as first member in compound

• वाक्येन: by Śaṅkara’s words
• वाक्येन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शंकरस्य वाक्यम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; “by the statement/words”

• लज्जितः: ashamed
• लज्जितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: lajjita (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्यय from √lajj)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “ashamed”

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitāmaha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to अहम्

• कन्दर्पाय: to Kandarpa (Cupid)
• कन्दर्पाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; “to Kāma (Cupid)”

• अकोपि: not angry
• अकोपि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + kopin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकारार्थ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “not angry”

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• भ्रुकुटी: frown
• भ्रुकुटी: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhru-kuṭī/bhru-kuṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक as first member in compound; “frown/knitted brow”

• कुटिल: crooked, curved
• कुटिल: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kuṭila (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक as qualifier in compound; “crooked/curved”

• आननः: with a frown-distorted face
• आननः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (भ्रुकुट्या कुटिलम् आननं यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; “one whose face is (made) crooked by a frown”

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga account; it sets up the Kāma episode by showing Brahmā’s reactive emotion after Śiva’s admonition.

Significance: Didactic: even cosmic functionaries (Brahmā) are subject to krodha and lajja; devotees are urged to seek Śiva’s grace to transcend passions.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Kama (Kandarpa)

FAQs

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

It shows how Śiva’s truth exposes ego and restores right order: even Brahmā feels shame and anger, reminding seekers that kama (desire) and krodha (anger) arise when the self is corrected, and must be purified under Pati (Śiva).

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

Saguna Śiva acts as the compassionate Lord who instructs and restrains cosmic beings; worship of the Liṅga trains the devotee to surrender ego and calm passions, aligning the mind to Śiva’s steadiness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to pacify desire and anger, along with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and Rudrākṣa as reminders of vairāgya (dispassion) and inner discipline.