Shloka 29

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

कश्यपः शिवमायातो मोहितः कामसंकुलः । ययाचे कन्यकां मोहाद्धन्वनो नृपतेः पुरा

Transliteration

kaśyapaḥ śivamāyāto mohitaḥ kāmasaṃkulaḥ | yayāce kanyakāṃ mohāddhanvano nṛpateḥ purā

Translation

Overtaken by Śiva’s māyā, Kaśyapa became deluded and stirred by desire; and in that bewilderment he once begged King Dhanvan for his maiden daughter.

Word by Word

• कश्यपः: Kashyapa
• कश्यपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्यप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवम्: to Shiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आयातः: came
• आयातः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘having come’

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘deluded’

• कामसंकुलः: filled with lust/desire
• कामसंकुलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-संकुल (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; समासः: कामेन संकुलः (filled with desire)

• ययाचे: begged/asked
• ययाचे: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: याच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कन्यकाम्: a maiden/daughter
• कन्यकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• मोहात्: out of delusion
• मोहात्: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• धन्वनः: of Dhanvan
• धन्वनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• नृपतेः: of the king
• नृपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kala (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kashyapa
• Dhanvan

FAQs

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

It highlights that even great beings can be veiled by Śiva’s māyā; when consciousness is covered, desire (kāma) arises and the jīva acts under moha, showing the need for Śiva-bhakti and right knowledge to loosen pāśa (bondage).

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

The narrative stresses that liberation comes by turning the mind from māyā-driven impulses toward Saguna Śiva—commonly approached through Linga worship—so devotion steadies the mind and restores discernment.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating vairāgya to calm kāma and clear moha.