Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

स्वसायकांस्तथा पंच समादाय शरासनम् । तस्याभितो भ्रमंतस्तु मोहयंस्तद्ग णानहम्

Transliteration

svasāyakāṃstathā paṃca samādāya śarāsanam | tasyābhito bhramaṃtastu mohayaṃstadga ṇānaham

Translation

Saisissant ses cinq flèches et son arc, je me mis à tourner autour de Lui, troublant de toutes parts ses gaṇas, ses serviteurs.

Word by Word

• sva-sāyakān: his/one's own arrows
• sva-sāyakān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva + sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: 'one's own arrows'

• tathā: also/thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb/conjunction): 'thus/also'

• pañca: five
• pañca: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या (indeclinable numeral used adjectivally); 'five' (sāyakān विशेषयति)

• samādāya: having taken
• samādāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-dā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having taken up'

• śara-āsanam: the bow
• śara-āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śara + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'seat/support of arrows' = bow

• tasya: of him
• tasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; 'of him'

• abhitaḥ: around
• abhitaḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhitaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक-अव्यय (adverb): 'around/on all sides'

• bhramantaḥ: wandering/whirling
• bhramantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhramat (भ्रम्-धातु, शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; 'wandering/whirling'

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): contrast/emphasis

• mohayan: deluding
• mohayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mohay (मुह्-धातु, णिच् causative)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'deluding'

• tad-gaṇān: his attendants
• tad-gaṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: 'his attendants/groups'

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aham (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Kāma (Manmatha), as narrated by Sūta Gosvāmin in the Satī-khaṇḍa context

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; depicts Kāma’s five arrows (pañca-sāyaka) as instruments of delusion/attachment attempting to bind even the divine attendants.

Characters & Entities

• Kama (Manmatha)
• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It depicts kāma (desire) using delusion to disturb tapas; Shaiva thought treats such impulses as pasha (bondage) that must be mastered so devotion and knowledge can mature toward Shiva’s grace.

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

The episode underscores Shiva’s unshakable yogic sovereignty: whether worshipped as the Linga or as Saguna Shiva, he remains beyond the agitation of desire, guiding devotees toward steadiness and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Strengthen japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady dhyāna and restraint of the senses; on Mahāśivarātri, combine vrata with focused meditation to overcome kama and moha.