Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

हर्षणं रोचनाख्यं च मोहनं शोषणं तथा । मारणं चेति प्रोक्तानि मुनेर्मोहकराण्यपि

Transliteration

harṣaṇaṃ rocanākhyaṃ ca mohanaṃ śoṣaṇaṃ tathā | māraṇaṃ ceti proktāni munermohakarāṇyapi

Translation

On les énonce ainsi : réjouir (harṣaṇa), le rite nommé « rocana », illusionner (mohana), dessécher (śoṣaṇa) et tuer (māraṇa). On dit encore que ce sont des actes capables d’égarer même un sage muni.

Word by Word

• हर्षणम्: (the spell of) delighting
• हर्षणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सूची-प्रयोगे

• रोचना-आख्यम्: called ‘Rocanā’
• रोचना-आख्यम्: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रोचना + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (रोचनाया आख्यं = named ‘Rocanā’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘हर्षणम्’ इत्यादीनां विशेषणवत्

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

• मोहनम्: bewildering/infatuating
• मोहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• शोषणम्: drying up, emaciating
• शोषणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तथैव

• मारणम्: killing, destroying
• मारणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, सूची-समापन/उद्धरण

• प्रोक्तानि: were declared
• प्रोक्तानि: Kriyā (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-वच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विधेय-रूपेण (were said)

• मुनेः: of the sage
• मुनेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• मोह-कराणि: causing delusion
• मोह-कराणि: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मोह + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मोहं करोति), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘प्रोक्तानि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अपि-भाव (also/even)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Rudrasaṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

FAQs

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

The verse warns that certain power-oriented rites (meant to attract, delude, weaken, or harm) can generate moha (bewilderment) so strong that even disciplined seekers may fall from clarity; Shaiva teaching prioritizes purification and Shiva’s grace over fascination with such powers.

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

Linga/Saguna-Shiva worship trains the mind toward śuddhi (purity), devotion, and surrender, countering mohana (delusion). By anchoring practice in Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord), the aspirant avoids being trapped by pāśa (bondage) created by lower, ego-driven accomplishments.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied takeaway is to avoid harmful or delusion-based rites and instead steady oneself in Shiva-upāsanā—especially japa of the Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined worship—so the mind is not overpowered by moha.