Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

तान्वृक्षांश्च सुपुष्पौघान् तैः सुगंधिसमीरणैः । दृष्ट्वा कामवशं याता मुनयोपि परे किमु

Transliteration

tānvṛkṣāṃśca supuṣpaughān taiḥ sugaṃdhisamīraṇaiḥ | dṛṣṭvā kāmavaśaṃ yātā munayopi pare kimu

Translation

Seeing those trees laden with masses of beautiful blossoms, and the breezes fragrant with their perfume, even the exalted sages were drawn under the sway of desire; how much more, then, would others be so affected?

Word by Word

• तान्: those
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (of वृक्षान्)

• वृक्षान्: trees
• वृक्षान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• सु-पुष्प-ओघान्: having abundant beautiful flowers
• सु-पुष्प-ओघान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘masses/streams of fine flowers’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया बहुवचन; विशेषण (of वृक्षान्)

• तैः: by/with those
• तैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन (Instrumental plural)

• सुगन्धि-समीरनैः: with fragrant breezes
• सुगन्धि-समीरनैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुगन्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + समीरन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (‘fragrant breezes’); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund) ‘having seen’

• काम-वशम्: into the sway of desire
• काम-वशम्: Gati/Avadhi (गतिः/अवस्था)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + वश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (‘under the control of desire’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (adverbial accusative of state)

• याताः: went/became
• याताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्तरि-प्रयोगे ‘gone/became’

• मुनयः: sages
• मुनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्भावना/अपि-समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• परे: supreme/excellent
• परे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; विशेषण (of मुनयः)

• किमु: how much more (then)
• किमु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किमु (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रश्नार्थक/अधिक्यबोधक-अव्यय (‘how much more/what then’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Serves as a cautionary kṣetra-lesson: even in sacred environs, the bound soul (paśu) can be stirred by kāma; pilgrimage should mature into vairāgya and devotion rather than mere aesthetic relish.

FAQs

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

It highlights the power of sensory attraction (kāma) and the need for vigilant self-mastery; if even accomplished sages can be stirred, ordinary seekers must rely on disciplined restraint and devotion to Śiva (Pati) to transcend bondage (pāśa).

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

By showing how the mind is pulled outward by fragrance and beauty, the verse implicitly points to Linga/Saguṇa-Śiva worship as a stabilizing focus—redirecting attention from sense-objects to Śiva, the inner Lord who grants steadiness and purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sense-restraint with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple daily Śiva-pūjā; use sacred supports like vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as reminders to keep the mind from drifting into kāma.