Shloka 68

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

Devanagari script

काम उवाच । किमर्थं भवता ब्रह्मञ् शप्तोहमिति दारुणम् । अनागास्तव लोकेश न्याय्यमार्गानुसारिणः

Transliteration

kāma uvāca | kimarthaṃ bhavatā brahmañ śaptohamiti dāruṇam | anāgāstava lokeśa nyāyyamārgānusāriṇaḥ

Translation

Kāma said: “O Brahmā, for what reason have you cursed me so harshly? O Lord of the worlds, I am without fault; I am one who follows the proper and righteous path.”

Word by Word

• कामः: Kāma (Cupid)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

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

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अर्थम्: purpose/reason
• अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Reason)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• भवता: by you
• भवता: Karana (करण/Instrument, agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular)

• शप्तः: cursed
• शप्तः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Predicate participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु) + त (क्त, कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)

• इति: thus/“that”
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• दारुणम्: cruel/terrible
• दारुणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दारुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying ‘शापम्’ implied)

• अनागाः: blameless
• अनागाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनागस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular) (Vedic/epic usage; ‘anāgāḥ’ for ‘anāgaḥ’); विशेषण (of ‘अहम्’)

• तव: of you/your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन (Singular)

• लोकेश: O Lord of the worlds
• लोकेश: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): लोकस्य ईशः

• न्याय्य: proper/just
• न्याय्य: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्याय्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (of ‘अहम्’ understood)

• मार्ग: paths/ways
• मार्ग: Karma (कर्म/Object within compound)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural) (as first member in compound)

• अनुसारिणः: one who follows (the paths)
• अनुसारिणः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent as descriptor)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनु-√सृ (धातु) + णिनि (कृदन्त ‘अनुसारिन्’)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त/कर्तरि-णिनि (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); ‘मार्ग’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम् (in compound sense)

Speaker

Kama (Kamadeva)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kama

FAQs

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

It highlights the tension between personal self-justification and the higher law of dharma: even subtle forces like desire (kāma) can become bondage (pāśa) when they disturb the divine order, and accountability operates through karmic and cosmic governance.

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

By portraying kāma as a force that claims legitimacy, the verse points to why devotees take refuge in Saguna Shiva (often through Linga worship): Shiva is the Lord who masters and dissolves inner impulses, turning desire into disciplined devotion rather than worldly agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to restrain and purify desire through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dharmic conduct; when impulses arise, redirect the mind to Shiva as Pati, the liberating Lord beyond pāśa.