Shloka 16

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

यदा त्यक्तसमाधिस्तु हरस्तस्थौ कदाचन । तदा तस्य पुरश्चक्रयुगं रचितवानहम्

Transliteration

yadā tyaktasamādhistu harastasthau kadācana | tadā tasya puraścakrayugaṃ racitavānaham

Translation

When Hara (Śiva) once rose from His samādhi and stood still, then I fashioned before Him a pair of discus-weapons (cakras).

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (when)

• त्यक्तसमाधिः: (one) having abandoned samādhi
• त्यक्तसमाधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tyakta (√tyaj त्यज् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त) + samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-समास (त्यक्तः समाधिः यस्य सः/त्यक्तः समाधिः) — ‘one whose samādhi is abandoned’ (contextually epithet)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: “but/indeed”)

• हरः: Hara (Śiva)
• हरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Singular)

• तस्थौ: stood/remained
• तस्थौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular); परस्मैपद

• कदाचन: at some time
• कदाचन: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kadācana (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (at some time/ever)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (then)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• पुरः: in front (of)
• पुरः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puras (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश-पूर्वपद (in front of)

• चक्रयुगम्: a pair of discs/wheels
• चक्रयुगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra + yuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चक्राणां युगम् = pair of wheels/discs)

• रचितवान्: made/constructed
• रचितवान्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rac (रच् धातु) + racitavat (क्तवत्-कृदन्त)
• Form: क्तवत्-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि “having made/constructed”

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

Speaker

Viśvakarmā (implied artisan-creator speaking in first person within the Satīkhaṇḍa narration, as relayed by Sūta)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as the supreme Yogi: even when He withdraws into samādhi (transcendent stillness), He can re-manifest activity for cosmic purpose; the verse links inner absorption with outer divine governance.

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

Śiva’s coming out of samādhi shows His approachable Saguna aspect—devotees and divine attendants can offer service before Him—while His samādhi points to His transcendent nature worshipped through the Liṅga as the sign of the Absolute.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to cultivate dhyāna/samādhi as Śiva’s path, then dedicate the fruits of practice as an offering (arpana) to Śiva—especially on Mahāśivarātri—along with traditional supports like mantra-japa (e.g., Pañcākṣarī) and vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) where appropriate.