Shloka 55

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा समधुः कामस्सरतिस्सभयस्तदा । ययौ मारगणैः सार्द्धं शिवस्थानं मुनीश्वर

Transliteration

ityuktvā samadhuḥ kāmassaratissabhayastadā | yayau māragaṇaiḥ sārddhaṃ śivasthānaṃ munīśvara

Translation

Having said this, Kāma—together with Madhu and Sarati—then became afraid. O lord of sages, he went along with the hosts of Māra to Śiva’s abode.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्ति/quotative particle

• uktvā: having said
• uktvā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √vac (धातु) > uktvā (कृदन्त, त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun

• madhuḥ: Madhu
• madhuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name (Madhu)

• kāmaḥ: Kāma (Love-god)
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; apposition to madhuḥ

• sarati: moves, goes
• sarati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• sa-bhayaḥ: fearful
• sa-bhayaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सह भयेन)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय/adverb of time

• yayau: went
• yayau: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √yā (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• māragaṇaiḥ: with the troops of Māra
• māragaṇaiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/Instrumental accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māra-gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मारस्य गणाः)

• sārddham: together with
• sārddham: Sahārtha (सहार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sārddham (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अर्थक अव्यय (with/along with)

• śiva-sthānam: Śiva’s abode
• śiva-sthānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य स्थानम्)

• munīśvara: O lord of sages
• munīśvara: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Narrative prelude to Kāma’s attempted disturbance of Śiva’s tapas; not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga shrine in this passage.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Manmatha/Mara)
• Madhu
• Sarati

FAQs

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

The verse highlights that kāma (desire) becomes powerless and fearful in the presence of Śiva, the Supreme Pati; in Shaiva Siddhānta, liberation arises when the soul turns from binding impulses (pāśa) toward devotion and surrender to Śiva.

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

It frames Śiva’s abode as the locus of divine authority where worldly forces like Kāma must submit; in Saguna worship—especially of the Śiva-liṅga—devotees seek steadiness of mind and mastery over desire through Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is restraint of the senses supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), along with Śiva-upāsanā such as applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and keeping a devotional discipline that weakens kāma.