Shloka 46

Vṛṣeśākhya-Śivāvatāra and the Initiation of the Kṣīrasāgara-Manthana

Churning of the Milk Ocean

Devanagari script

संमोहितः कामबाणैर्लेभे तत्रैव निर्वृतिम् । ताभिश्च वरनारीभिः क्रीडमानो बभूव ह

Transliteration

saṃmohitaḥ kāmabāṇairlebhe tatraiva nirvṛtim | tābhiśca varanārībhiḥ krīḍamāno babhūva ha

Translation

Bewildered by Kāma’s arrows, he found delight right there; and sporting with those excellent women, he indeed remained absorbed in play.

Word by Word

• saṃmohitaḥ: bewildered, deluded
• saṃmohitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-muh (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• kāma-bāṇaiḥ: by the arrows of Kāma
• kāma-bāṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma + bāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); समास: कामस्य बाणाः = ‘arrows of Kāma’ (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• lebhe: obtained, found
• lebhe: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: labh (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• eva: indeed, just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• nirvṛtim: delight, satisfaction
• nirvṛtim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirvṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• tābhiḥ: with them
• tābhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय)

• vara-nārībhiḥ: with excellent women
• vara-nārībhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सह/सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara + nārī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारय: ‘excellent women’ (वरा नारीः)

• krīḍamānaḥ: playing, sporting
• krīḍamānaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krīḍ (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Present middle participle (शानच्-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• babhūva: became, was
• babhūva: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• ha: indeed (narrative)
• ha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: Narrative particle (स्मरण/इतिहाससूचक-अव्यय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kāma’s ‘arrows’ symbolize guṇa-driven agitation leading to adharma and future cosmic disturbance

Characters & Entities

• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how kāma (desire) can delude the bound soul (paśu), producing temporary pleasure (nirvṛti) yet reinforcing bondage (pāśa). In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, it points to the need for discernment and detachment so that the soul may turn toward Pati (Shiva) for liberation.

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

By showing the mind’s susceptibility to desire, the narrative implicitly supports Saguna Shiva-upāsanā (such as Linga worship) as a stabilizing discipline: devotion, pūjā, and remembrance redirect attention from sense-objects toward Shiva, purifying the heart and weakening kāma-driven impulses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with basic sense-restraint, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of renunciation and Shiva-centered awareness.