Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57

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

Devanagari script

उपायं स चकाराति तत्र मारगणोऽपि च । मोहोभवन्न वै शंभोरपि कश्चित्परात्मनः

Transliteration

upāyaṃ sa cakārāti tatra māragaṇo'pi ca | mohobhavanna vai śaṃbhorapi kaścitparātmanaḥ

Translation

Là, il imagina un stratagème, et les troupes de Māra s’y rassemblèrent aussi. Mais en Śambhu—le Soi suprême—nulle illusion ne s’éleva, car nul ne peut l’égarer.

Word by Word

• upāyam: a means, stratagem
• upāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• cakāra: made, did
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ati: exceedingly
• ati: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग/अव्यय; intensifier (excessively/very)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय/adverb of place

• māra-gaṇaḥ: Māra’s troop
• māra-gaṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māra (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मारस्य गणः)

• api: also, even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि (also/even)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/and

• mohaḥ: delusion
• mohaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• abhavat: arose, happened
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध/negation particle

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात/particle; emphasis

• śambhoḥ: of Śambhu (Śiva)
• śambhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि (even)

• kaścit: any, some (one)
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; indefinite pronoun

• parātmanaḥ: of the Supreme Self
• parātmanaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para-ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (परः आत्मा)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal assertion within narrative: Śambhu as Parātman is unbewildered by delusive hosts; not a Jyotirliṅga foundation story.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It affirms Śiva as Parātman (Pati), eternally free from moha; delusion belongs to bound souls (paśu) under bonds (pāśa), not to the Supreme Lord.

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

Linga-worship approaches the transcendent Parātman through a sacred form; this verse reminds devotees that the One worshipped is never overcome by māyā, even when He appears in worldly narratives.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śiva as the untouched witness (Parātman) while japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to reduce moha and align the mind with His steadiness.