Shloka 53

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

Devanagari script

तव वाग्गौरवं मत्वा दृष्ट्वा मारगणानपि । गमिष्यामि पुनस्तत्र सदारोहं त्वदाज्ञया

Transliteration

tava vāggauravaṃ matvā dṛṣṭvā māragaṇānapi | gamiṣyāmi punastatra sadārohaṃ tvadājñayā

Translation

Recognizing the weight and authority of your words, and having even seen those fearsome hosts, I shall return again to that place—together with my retinue—by your command.

Word by Word

• tava: your
• tava: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yusmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• vāk: speech/word
• vāk: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/compound-member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); first member in compound

• gauravam: reverence/weight
• gauravam: Karma (कर्म/object of considering)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• matvā: having considered
• matvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: man (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √man ‘to consider’

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), from √dṛś ‘to see’

• māragaṇān: the troops of Māra (Kāma)
• māragaṇān: Karma (कर्म/object of seeing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māragaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन); compound मारा(=काम) + गण (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• api: also/even
• api: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/also)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (समुच्चय/अपि), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• gamiṣyāmi: I will go
• gamiṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (धातु)
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 1st Person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• punaḥ: again
• punaḥ: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण), indeclinable (अव्यय)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa/Adhikaraṇa (देश/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• sa-dāroham: with ascent/mounting (together)
• sa-dāroham: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/manner)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa + dāroha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); avyayībhāva with सह/स ‘with’ + dāroha; used adverbially ‘with mounting/with ascent’

• tvad-ājñayā: by your command
• tvad-ājñayā: Karaṇa (करण/by means of—by your command)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad + ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound त्वद् + आज्ञा (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘your command’)

Speaker

A messenger/agent (envoy) addressing Lord Shiva or a Shiva-aligned authority figure within the Sati-khanda narrative

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights śaraṇāgati (surrender): when one recognizes the authority of the Lord’s word, fear of hostile forces diminishes and one acts according to dharma and divine will.

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

Saguna Shiva is approached as the living Lord whose ājñā guides devotees; true worship is not only ritual but also obedient alignment of one’s actions with Shiva’s command.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is ājñā-anusandhāna—mentally offering one’s next action to Shiva while repeating the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to cultivate steadiness and fearlessness.