Shloka 19

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

यदा चाप्राप्तविवरस्तस्मिन्योगिवरे स्मरः । महादेवस्तदा सोऽभून्महाभयविमोहितः

Transliteration

yadā cāprāptavivarastasminyogivare smaraḥ | mahādevastadā so'bhūnmahābhayavimohitaḥ

Translation

Lorsque Smara (Kāma), ne trouvant aucune brèche en ce yogin suprême, alors, en cet instant même, Mahādeva fut saisi et troublé par une grande crainte.

Word by Word

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction)

• अप्राप्त-विवरः: having found no opening (no opportunity)
• अप्राप्त-विवरः: Visheshana (विशेषण/adjectival to स्मरः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + प्राप्त (कृदन्त; √आप्/√प्राप्, past participle) + विवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि-समास: 'one whose opening/opportunity is not obtained'

• तस्मिन्: in him/there
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; demonstrative pronoun

• योगि-वरे: in the best of yogis
• योगि-वरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('best of yogis')

• स्मरः: Kāma (the god of love)
• स्मरः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva (Śiva)
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास ('great (who is) god')

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikarana (काल-अधिकरण/time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; pronoun

• अभूत्: became/was
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महा-भय-विमोहितः: overwhelmed by great fear
• महा-भय-विमोहितः: Visheshana (विशेषण/adjectival to सः/महादेवः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + भय (प्रातिपदिक) + विमोहित (कृदन्त; √मुह्, past participle with vi-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास ('deluded/overwhelmed by great fear')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

It highlights the yogic ideal that when consciousness is absorbed in Śiva (Pati) and disciplined through yoga, desire (kāma) cannot find an “opening”; liberation is protected by steadfast inner absorption and detachment.

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

In the Purāṇic narrative, devotion to Saguna Śiva—often centered on the Liṅga—stabilizes the mind and makes it inward-facing; such steadiness is portrayed as the condition in which Kāma cannot penetrate, supporting the devotee’s progress toward Śiva-realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily mantra-japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with steady dhyāna on Śiva, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and rudrākṣa as aids to vairāgya and mental restraint.