Shloka 37

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

रावणो वैश्रवाः कामी बभूव शिवमायया । सीतां जह्रे कुबुद्धिस्तु मोहितो मृत्युमाप च

Transliteration

rāvaṇo vaiśravāḥ kāmī babhūva śivamāyayā | sītāṃ jahre kubuddhistu mohito mṛtyumāpa ca

Translation

By Lord Śiva’s divine Māyā, Rāvaṇa—of Vaiśravaṇa’s line—was overpowered by lust. With perverted understanding and delusion, he abducted Sītā and thereby met his death as well.

Word by Word

• रावणः: Rāvaṇa
• रावणः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वैश्रवाः: (son of) Vaiśravaṇa / related to Vaiśravaṇa
• वैश्रवाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैश्रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (epithet)

• कामी: lustful, desirous
• कामी: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• बभूव: became
• बभूव: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शिवमायया: by Śiva’s māyā (illusion)
• शिवमायया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवमाया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य माया)

• सीताम्: Sītā
• सीताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सीता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• जहरे: abducted, carried off
• जहरे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कुबुद्धिः: evil-minded one / bad intellect
• कुबुद्धिः: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (कु + बुद्धिः = दुष्टा बुद्धिः)

• तु: but, indeed
• तु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थ

• मोहितः: deluded
• मोहितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agent-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• मृत्युम्: death
• मृत्युम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आप: attained, met with
• आप: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप्/अव् (धातु; आप् = प्राप्तौ)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Rudra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ravana
• Sita
• Vaishravana (Kubera/lineage)

FAQs

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

It teaches that unchecked kāma (lust) and moha (delusion) arise under māyā and culminate in bondage and destruction; only right understanding aligned with Shiva (Pati) leads the soul (paśu) beyond pasha (bondage).

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

By attributing delusion and its consequences to Shiva’s māyā, the verse points to Saguna Shiva as the Lord who governs karma and its fruits; Linga-worship cultivates devotion and discernment to transcend māyā rather than be driven by it.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily japa of the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with self-restraint (brahmacarya/indriya-nigraha) to purify desire and prevent moha from ruling the intellect.