Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

इति सर्वमहं दृष्ट्वा ज्ञात्वा तस्य च भावनाम् । विमुखोहं शंभुमोहान्नियतं ते वदाम्यहम्

Transliteration

iti sarvamahaṃ dṛṣṭvā jñātvā tasya ca bhāvanām | vimukhohaṃ śaṃbhumohānniyataṃ te vadāmyaham

Translation

“Thus, having seen everything and having understood his inner intention as well, I have turned away—surely—out of delusion regarding Śambhu. This I tell you as the truth.”

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: सम्बन्ध (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• सर्वम्: everything
• सर्वम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

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

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: पूर्वकाल क्रिया (absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दृष्ट्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: पूर्वकाल क्रिया (absolutive; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) → ज्ञात्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having known/understood’

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

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• भावनाम्: intention/mental disposition
• भावनाम्: कर्म (object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• विमुखः: turned away/averse
• विमुखः: विधेय (predicate of ‘अहम्’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (enclitic in sandhi: ’होऽहम्’)

• शंभु-मोहात्: from Śambhu’s delusion
• शंभु-मोहात्: अपादान (source/cause; ‘from/because of’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक) + मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी: शम्भोः मोहः), पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• नियतम्: certainly
• नियतम्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner/certainty)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbially: certainly)

• ते: to you
• ते: सम्प्रदान (recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, चतुर्थी (4th) एकवचन (enclitic)

• वदामि: I say/tell
• वदामि: क्रिया (verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (emphatic repetition)

Speaker

Satī (speaking about her prior misunderstanding of Śiva/Śambhu)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the devotee’s corrective movement: acknowledging ‘śambhu-moha’ (misconception about the Lord) is the first step toward grace (anugraha) and right understanding of Pati.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati
• Shambhu

FAQs

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

It highlights how moha (delusion) can veil Śiva’s true nature; spiritual progress begins when one honestly recognizes one’s misunderstanding and turns toward right knowledge and devotion to Pati (Śiva).

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

Śambhu here represents the accessible, compassionate Saguna form of Śiva; the verse implies that aversion to Śiva arises from ignorance, and Linga-worship is a corrective path that steadies the mind in reverence and clarity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter moha with steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and simple Śiva-pūjā (Linga-abhiṣeka), cultivating humility and self-correction.