Shloka 24

शिवमायाप्रभाववर्णनम्

Description of the Power/Effects of Śiva’s Māyā

Devanagari script

उर्वशीं तरुणीं दृष्ट्वा कामुको संबभूवतुः । मित्रः कुम्भे जहौ रेतो वरुणोऽपि तथा जले

Transliteration

urvaśīṃ taruṇīṃ dṛṣṭvā kāmuko saṃbabhūvatuḥ | mitraḥ kumbhe jahau reto varuṇo'pi tathā jale

Translation

En voyant la jeune Urvaśī, tous deux (Mitra et Varuṇa) furent envahis par le désir. Mitra déposa sa semence dans un vase, et Varuṇa fit de même dans l'eau.

Word by Word

• उर्वशीम्: Urvaśī
• उर्वशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उर्वशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• तरुणीम्: young
• तरुणीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तरुणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘उर्वशीम्’ विशेषण

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund)

• कामुकौ: became lustful (the two)
• कामुकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कामुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (मित्र-वरुणौ) विशेषण

• सम्-बभूवतुः: became
• सम्-बभूवतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, द्विवचन

• मित्रः: Mitra
• मित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मित्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कुम्भे: in a pot
• कुम्भे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• जहौ: released/let go
• जहौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• रेतः: semen
• रेतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Vedic/epic usage; object of ‘जहौ’)

• वरुणः: Varuṇa
• वरुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वरुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise/so)

• जले: in water
• जले: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Urvashi
• Mitra
• Varuna

FAQs

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

The verse illustrates kāma as a form of pāśa (bondage) that can seize even exalted beings; Shaiva teaching uses such episodes to emphasize vigilance, self-restraint, and turning the mind toward Pati (Śiva) for purification and liberation.

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

By highlighting the destabilizing force of desire, the narrative implicitly points to Saguna Śiva worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra, and devotion—as stabilizing disciplines that cleanse pāśa and reorient the devotee toward Śiva as the inner controller.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa, coupled with sense-restraint (indriya-nigraha) and contemplation on Śiva as the purifier of passions.