Shloka 24

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

फलमेतस्य पापस्य मदनस्स्वयमाप्तवान् । यस्तं शशाप कुपितः शंभोरग्रे पितामहः

Transliteration

phalametasya pāpasya madanassvayamāptavān | yastaṃ śaśāpa kupitaḥ śaṃbhoragre pitāmahaḥ

Translation

Kāma (Madana) himself received the fruit of this sinful act; for Pitāmaha (Brahmā), angered in the presence of Śambhu (Śiva), pronounced a curse upon him.

Word by Word

• फलम्: fruit; result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• एतस्य: of this
• एतस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; पापस्य इति विशेषणम् (of this)

• पापस्य: of the sin
• पापस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta-prayojaka (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, आत्मार्थक (emphatic)

• आप्तवान्: obtained; received
• आप्तवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; finite sense: 'obtained/received'

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शशाप: cursed
• शशाप: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कुपितः: angry
• कुपितः: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुपित (कृदन्त; √कुप्)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पितामहः इति विशेषणम्

• शंभोः: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• अग्रे: in front of; in the presence of
• अग्रे: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-निभ (locative used adverbially), सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत्: 'in front/presence'

• पितामहः: Pitāmaha (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Kama (Madana)

FAQs

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

It underscores karma-phala: even a powerful deity like Kāma must bear the consequence of wrongdoing, and in Śiva’s presence cosmic order is upheld—desire is shown as subordinate to dharma and higher Śaiva discipline.

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

By placing the curse ‘before Śambhu,’ the text highlights Śiva as the immediate witness and regulator of cosmic ethics; Saguna Śiva worship (including Liṅga-upāsanā) trains the devotee to restrain kāma and align conduct with Śiva’s law.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is kāma-nigraha through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Śiva-smaraṇa; cultivating inner purity (often supported in Śaiva practice by bhasma/tripuṇḍra and disciplined vrata) is implied rather than any specific rite in this single verse.