Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

ज्वलदग्निप्रकाशाक्षं जट्टाराशिकरालिनम् । शृंगिणं वीक्ष्य कस्स्थातुं ब्रह्मन् शक्नोति तत्पुरः

Transliteration

jvaladagniprakāśākṣaṃ jaṭṭārāśikarālinam | śṛṃgiṇaṃ vīkṣya kassthātuṃ brahman śaknoti tatpuraḥ

Translation

O Brahmā, after beholding that horned Lord—whose eyes blaze with the radiance of flaming fire, and whose dreadful mass of matted jaṭā locks is terrifying—who could possibly stand before Him?

Word by Word

• ज्वलत्-अग्नि-प्रकाश-अक्षम्: having eyes shining like blazing fire
• ज्वलत्-अग्नि-प्रकाश-अक्षम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलत् (कृदन्त) + अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—(अग्नि-प्रकाशः) षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः + (प्रकाश-अक्षम्) कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषः; ‘ज्वलत्’ इति वर्तमानकृदन्त-विशेषणम् (present active participle)

• जट्-टा-राशि-करालिनम्: terrifying with a mass of matted locks
• जट्-टा-राशि-करालिनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जट्/जटा (प्रातिपदिक) + राशि (प्रातिपदिक) + करालिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—जटा-राशिः (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुषः) + करालिन् (तत्पुरुषः)

• शृङ्गिणम्: horned
• शृङ्गिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शृङ्ग’ युक्तः (horned)

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having seen’

• कः: who
• कः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रश्नवाचक-सर्वनाम (interrogative pronoun)

• स्थातुम्: to stand
• स्थातुम्: Prayojana/Artha (प्रयोजन/अर्थ)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √स्था (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to stand/remain’

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (O Brahmā)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संबोधन (vocative)

• शक्नोति: is able
• शक्नोति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √शक् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• तत्-पुरः: before him / in his presence
• तत्-पुरः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुरस्/पुरः (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; ‘तस्य पुरः’ = ‘in front of him’; अव्यय (indeclinable adverbial)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya, describing the scene in Satī-khaṇḍa)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the overwhelming majesty of Saguna Śiva: His fiery-eyed presence shatters pride and fear, teaching that the limited mind cannot ‘stand before’ the Infinite except through humility, devotion, and surrender to Pati (the Lord).

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

It emphasizes Saguna Śiva’s tangible, awe-inspiring manifestation—yet the same Supreme is approached as the Śiva-liṅga for steady worship. The fierce description turns the devotee inward: instead of judging form, one seeks refuge in Śiva as the compassionate Lord who grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to calm fear and ego through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and dhyāna on Śiva’s radiant eyes as the fire of purification, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and devotion.