Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

कृत्वा प्रणामं विधये मह्यं गद्गदया गिरा । उवाच मदनो मां चोदासीनो विमदो मुने

Transliteration

kṛtvā praṇāmaṃ vidhaye mahyaṃ gadgadayā girā | uvāca madano māṃ codāsīno vimado mune

Translation

O sage, then Madana (Kāma), having bowed to the Ordainer (Brahmā) and also to me, spoke in a choked voice—standing aside, free from pride.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• प्रणामम्: salutation
• प्रणामम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• विधये: to Vidhī (Brahmā)/to the Ordainer
• विधये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन

• मह्यम्: to me
• मह्यम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• गद्गदया: with a faltering
• गद्गदया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (गिरा)

• गिरा: voice/speech
• गिरा: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मदनः: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• उदासीनः: indifferent
• उदासीनः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उदासीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (मदनः)

• विमदः: free from pride/intoxication
• विमदः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विमद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (मदनः)

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/Vocative), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma (Vidhātā), narrated within Sūta’s discourse

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the focus is on submission (praṇāma) and the softening of ego (mada-nivṛtti) before higher ordinance (Brahmā) and the Supreme (Śiva).

Significance: Models the pilgrim’s inner posture: humility before Śiva and guru-like cosmic authorities; encourages śaraṇāgati as prerequisite for grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kama (Madana)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes the Shaiva virtue of egoless reverence: even powerful deities act with humility (vimada) and offer pranama, showing that surrender to divine order is foundational for spiritual progress.

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

Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship begins with the inner posture shown here—pranama, soft speech, and absence of pride—because devotion (bhakti) is considered effective when the ego is subdued and reverence is primary.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests beginning worship with pranama and an attitude of humility; in practice this aligns with offering salutations before japa (e.g., Panchakshara mantra) and entering meditation with a softened, non-egoic mind.