Shloka 64

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

Devanagari script

भवनेत्राग्निनिर्दग्धः कंदर्पो दर्पमोहितः । भविष्यति महादेवे कृत्वा कर्मं सुदुष्करम्

Transliteration

bhavanetrāgninirdagdhaḥ kaṃdarpo darpamohitaḥ | bhaviṣyati mahādeve kṛtvā karmaṃ suduṣkaram

Translation

Maddened by pride, Kandarpa (Kāma) will undertake a most difficult deed against Mahādeva—and, scorched by the fire from Your eye, he will be reduced to ashes.

Word by Word

• भव-नेत्र-अग्नि-निर्दग्धः: burnt by the fire of Bhava’s eye
• भव-नेत्र-अग्नि-निर्दग्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhava (प्रातिपदिक) + netra (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + nirdagdha (कृदन्त; निर्+दह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'burnt by the fire of Bhava's eye' (instrumental sense)

• कंदर्पः: Kandarpa (Kāma)
• कंदर्पः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kandarpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दर्प-मोहितः: deluded by pride
• दर्प-मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: darpa (प्रातिपदिक) + mohita (कृदन्त; मुह् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) 'deluded by pride'

• भविष्यति: will become / will happen
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महादेवे: in/with regard to Mahādeva
• महादेवे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahādeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महान् देवः)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), 'having done'

• कर्म: deed/action
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• सु-दुष्करम्: very difficult
• सु-दुष्करम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय) + duṣkara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव (su+duṣkaram)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satīkhaṇḍa episode to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga origin; it foreshadows the well-known episode where Kāma is burned by Śiva’s third-eye fire for disturbing the Lord’s tapas.

Significance: Reinforces Śiva as the destroyer of kāma (binding desire) and pride; pilgrims contemplate inner ‘Kāmāntaka’ grace—burning passions to ash.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kamadeva

FAQs

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

The verse warns that pride-driven desire (kāma joined with darpa) becomes a binding pasha that opposes Mahādeva’s tapas; when it confronts Shiva, it is burned away—signifying the spiritual necessity of ego-less restraint and devotion for liberation.

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

Saguna Shiva as Mahādeva is portrayed as the Lord of yogic fire who dissolves inner impurities; Linga-worship centers on this purifying presence—offering one’s desires into Shiva’s consciousness so that bondage is transformed into clarity and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and steady breath-awareness, consciously offering rising desire and pride into Shiva; this aligns the mind with vairāgya and supports tapas.