Shloka 34
Vyāsotpatti-kathana
Account of the Birth/Origin of Vyāsa
किंचिद्वै कारणं विद्धि यतोऽहं कामपीडितः । दृष्ट्वा चाप्सरसारूपं नामुह्यन्मे नमः क्वचित्
kiṃcidvai kāraṇaṃ viddhi yato'haṃ kāmapīḍitaḥ | dṛṣṭvā cāpsarasārūpaṃ nāmuhyanme namaḥ kvacit
Know this as the true cause: I have been tormented by desire. Yet even on beholding the form of an apsaras, my mind is not deluded—at no time do I lose my inner reverence.
An ascetic/devotee narrator within the Umāsaṃhitā dialogue (contextually a self-reporting speaker describing temptation and steadiness of reverence toward Shiva)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Mantra: namaḥ
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse highlights kāma (desire) as a binding pasha, yet teaches that steady inner “namaḥ” (reverent surrender) protects the mind from moha (delusion), supporting the Shaiva path of self-mastery and devotion to Pati, Shiva.
By emphasizing unwavering reverence even amid sensory temptation, it points to sustained Saguna Shiva-bhakti—keeping the mind anchored in worship (as in Linga-upāsanā) so external forms do not overpower inner remembrance.
Practice continuous japa with an attitude of “namaḥ” (e.g., the Panchakshara—Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to stabilize attention; this inner surrender functions as a yogic safeguard when desire arises.