Shloka 46

Devanagari script

वीक्षणं गौरिरूपेण क्रीडयेन्मन्मथैर्गणैः । कामोऽयं हंति कामारिमूचुरन्योन्यमादताः

Transliteration

vīkṣaṇaṃ gaurirūpeṇa krīḍayenmanmathairgaṇaiḥ | kāmo'yaṃ haṃti kāmārimūcuranyonyamādatāḥ

Translation

Assuming the form of Gaurī, he sportfully cast glances, accompanied by hosts of Kāma-like powers. Then they said to one another: “This desire indeed strikes even Kāma’s foe (Śiva).”

Word by Word

• वीक्षणम्: a glance/looking
• वीक्षणम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīkṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भाववाचक (act of looking)

• गौरि-रूपेण: in the form of Gaurī
• गौरि-रूपेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaurī-rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (gauryāḥ rūpeṇa)

• क्रीडयेत्: should play/sport
• क्रीडयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्मथैः: with the Cupids (love-gods)
• मन्मथैः: Sahakari (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manmatha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• गणैः: with groups
• गणैः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• कामः: Kāma (Love)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हन्ति: kills/strikes
• हन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कामारिम्: the enemy of Kāma (Śiva)
• कामारिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma-ari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (kāmasya ariṃ)

• ऊचुः: they said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• अन्योन्यम्: to each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyonya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (reciprocal adverb)

• आदताः: having taken up (the talk)/engaged
• आदताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘आदत्त’/‘आदात’ = having taken/engaged

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kama (Manmatha)

FAQs

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

It highlights how kama (desire) can appear powerful even before the great Lord, yet in Shaiva Siddhanta Shiva remains the supreme Pati—never truly bound; the episode teaches devotees to recognize desire’s force and seek refuge in Shiva through disciplined devotion.

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

The verse portrays Saguna-līlā (divine play) through forms and emotions, while Linga-worship points to the same Shiva as the inner, unshaken reality beyond all impulses; devotees worship the Linga to transcend kama and stabilize awareness in Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) with remembrance of purity, and cultivate vairāgya—using mantra and mindfulness to transform desire into devotion.