Shloka 10

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

तस्या भ्रूयुगलं वीक्ष्य संशयं मदनोकरोत् । उत्सादनं मत्कोदण्डं विधात्रास्यां निवेशितम्

Transliteration

tasyā bhrūyugalaṃ vīkṣya saṃśayaṃ madanokarot | utsādanaṃ matkodaṇḍaṃ vidhātrāsyāṃ niveśitam

Translation

Seeing her pair of eyebrows, Kāma fell into doubt; for the Creator (Vidhātṛ) had placed my bow—meant for subduing and overpowering—upon her face as that expressive arch of brow.

Word by Word

• tasyāḥ: of her
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bhrū-yugalam: pair of eyebrows
• bhrū-yugalam: Karma (कर्म) (object of vīkṣya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrū-yugala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘भ्रुवोः युगलम्’ = pair of eyebrows

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), √ईक्ष् with वि-; ‘having seen’

• saṃśayam: doubt
• saṃśayam: Karma (कर्म) (object of akarot)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃśaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• madanaḥ: Madana (Cupid)
• madanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• akarot: made; formed
• akarot: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √कृ ‘to make/do’

• utsādanam: destruction; eradication
• utsādanam: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to matkodaṇḍam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utsādana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘removal/destruction’

• mat-kodaṇḍam: my bow
• mat-kodaṇḍam: Karma (कर्म) (object understood with niveśitam)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mat-kodaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मम कोदण्डः’ = my bow

• vidhātrā: by the Creator
• vidhātrā: Karaṇa (करण) / Agent-in-instrumental
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidhātṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘by the Creator (Brahmā)’

• asyām: in her
• asyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• niveśitam: placed; implanted
• niveśitam: Karma (कर्म) (predicate participle of matkodaṇḍam)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा, एकवचन; √विश् with उपसर्ग नि-; ‘placed/implanted’ (agreeing with matkodaṇḍam)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Satī episode to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Sati
• Kama
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It portrays Satī as divinely empowered: even Kāma hesitates, implying that desire is subdued in the presence of śakti aligned to Śiva. The verse hints that spiritual resolve and purity can overpower the ordinary force of passion.

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

In the Satī narrative, devotion moves toward Śiva as the supreme Pati beyond sense-objects. Worship of Saguna Śiva (including the Liṅga) trains the mind to turn from Kāma’s pull to steadfast bhakti and reverence for Śiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is restraint (saṁyama) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple Śaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and focused meditation to pacify desire and stabilize devotion.