Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

मधुरप्यकरोत्कर्म युक्तं यत्तस्य मोहने । तच्छृणुष्व महाभाग सत्यं सत्यं वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

madhurapyakarotkarma yuktaṃ yattasya mohane | tacchṛṇuṣva mahābhāga satyaṃ satyaṃ vadāmyaham

Translation

Even though it appeared gentle and pleasing, he performed an act skillfully devised to delude him. Listen to that, O noble one—for I speak the truth, the truth alone.

Word by Word

• मधुरम्: sweetly/pleasantly
• मधुरम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मधुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative: ‘sweetly/pleasantly’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (even/also)

• अकरोत्: did/made
• अकरोत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कर्म: act/deed
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• युक्तम्: appropriate/fit
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (प्रातिपदिक; युज्-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम् (well-arranged/appropriate)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

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

• मोहने: in deluding
• मोहने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; निर्देशक

• शृणुष्व: listen
• शृणुष्व: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद (शृणु + स्व)

• महाभाग: O greatly fortunate one
• महाभाग: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः यस्य/महाभागः) संबोधन

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत्

• सत्यम्: truly
• सत्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; पुनरुक्ति-बल (emphatic repetition)

• वदामि: I say
• वदामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

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

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It highlights that an action may look pleasant outwardly yet be intended to bewilder; the Purana frames liberation-oriented discernment by insisting on satya (truth) as the guiding light beyond māyā.

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

By contrasting delusion with truth, the verse supports Saguna Shiva devotion as a stabilizing refuge: worship centers the mind in dharma and clarity, helping the seeker see through मोह (bewilderment) that diverts one from Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is satya-niṣṭhā (truthfulness) supported by mantra-japa—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to steady the mind against मोह (delusion).