Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

अथ ते मम निश्श्वाससंभवाश्च महागणाः । मारयच्छेदयेत्यूचुर्ब्रह्मणो मे पुरः स्थिताः

Transliteration

atha te mama niśśvāsasaṃbhavāśca mahāgaṇāḥ | mārayacchedayetyūcurbrahmaṇo me puraḥ sthitāḥ

Translation

Then those mighty Gaṇas—born of My very breath—stood before Me in Brahmā’s presence and cried, “Command us: shall we slay, shall we cut down?”

Word by Word

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• mama: my
• mama: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (genitive: 'of me/my')

• niḥśvāsa-saṃbhavāḥ: born of (my) breath
• niḥśvāsa-saṃbhavāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niḥśvāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃbhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'born from (my) breath'; विशेषण of 'mahāgaṇāḥ'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction 'and')

• mahā-gaṇāḥ: great hosts (attendants)
• mahā-gaṇāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'great hosts'

• māraya: kill!
• māraya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √mṛ (धातु) caus. (मारयति)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; णिच् (causative): 'cause to die/kill!'

• chēdaya: cut (him) down!
• chēdaya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √chid (धातु) caus. (छेदयति)
• Form: लोट्, मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; णिच् (causative): 'cause to be cut/cut!'

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• ūcuḥ: they said
• ūcuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; 'of Brahmā'

• me: my
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (genitive) एकवचन (enclitic); 'my'

• puraḥ: in front
• puraḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: puraḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (adverb of place: 'in front')

• sthitāḥ: standing
• sthitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; 'standing/placed' (agreeing with 'te/mahāgaṇāḥ')

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights Śiva as Pati (the supreme Lord) whose śakti manifests even as attendants (Gaṇas), yet remains governed by dharma—power arises from Him, but action must follow His righteous command.

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

The verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s lordship: the personal Lord directs His cosmic forces. In Liṅga worship, devotees approach this same sovereign presence—compassionate, orderly, and protective—rather than chaotic power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is disciplined japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to align one’s impulses with Śiva’s will—transforming raw energy into dharmic action.