Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

मयूरमिथुनं तत्राकार्षीद्भावं रसोत्सुकम् । विविधां गतिमाश्रित्य पार्श्वे तस्य पुरस्तथा

Transliteration

mayūramithunaṃ tatrākārṣīdbhāvaṃ rasotsukam | vividhāṃ gatimāśritya pārśve tasya purastathā

Translation

There, the pair of peacocks became stirred with amorous feeling, eager for delight; assuming many graceful movements, they sported by his side and also in front of him.

Word by Word

• मयूरमिथुनम्: a pair of peacocks
• मयूरमिथुनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मयूर + मिथुन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मयूराणां मिथुनम्)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• आकार्षीत्: drew/attracted
• आकार्षीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-आ (आ + कृष्)

• भावम्: emotion / state
• भावम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• रसोत्सुकम्: eager for pleasure/romantic flavor
• रसोत्सुकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रस + उत्सुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (रसे उत्सुकः/रसस्य उत्सुकः) विशेषणम् (भावम्)

• विविधाम्: various
• विविधाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (गतिम्)

• गतिम्: movement
• गतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आश्रित्य: having adopted
• आश्रित्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + श्रि (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having resorted to/assuming’

• पार्श्वे: at the side
• पार्श्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तस्य: of that / his
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पुरः: in front
• पुरः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (adverb: in front)

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (also/likewise)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

FAQs

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

It shows how the natural world spontaneously reflects and amplifies the mood of a sacred presence—yet for the sādhaka it also becomes a reminder to witness desire as a movement of prakṛti and turn the mind toward Pati (Śiva), the Lord beyond passion.

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

Such descriptions support Saguna contemplation: devotees meditate on the Lord’s tangible, grace-filled presence that harmonizes creation; this same devotional focus is stabilized in practice through Linga-worship where the mind is gathered and offered to Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sense-restraint with devotional reorientation: when desire arises from sensory beauty, repeat the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mentally offer the emotion at the Linga, cultivating śuddha-bhakti and inner steadiness.