Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 9

कौशिकी-गौरी तथा शार्दूलरूप-निशाचरस्य पूर्वकर्मवर्णनम् | Kauśikī-Gaurī and Brahmā’s account of the tiger-formed niśācara

Devanagari script

तर्पयंस्तान्यथाकामं कामरूपी चरत्यसौ । अवश्यं खलु भोक्तव्यं फलं पापस्य कर्मणः

Transliteration

tarpayaṃstānyathākāmaṃ kāmarūpī caratyasau | avaśyaṃ khalu bhoktavyaṃ phalaṃ pāpasya karmaṇaḥ

Translation

Les satisfaisant selon leurs désirs, il erre en prenant des formes façonnées par la convoitise. Assurément, le fruit de l’acte pécheur doit être éprouvé.

Word by Word

• तर्पयन्: satisfying
• तर्पयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Agent, participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तर्पय् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; ‘while satisfying’

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• यथा-कामम्: as desired, at will
• यथा-कामम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (adverbial)

• काम-रूपी: assuming forms at will
• काम-रूपी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन; विशेषण to असौ

• चरति: moves about, acts
• चरति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• असौ: that one (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असद्/अदस् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• अवश्यम्: certainly, inevitably
• अवश्यम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अवश्यम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb) — necessity

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• भोक्तव्यम्: must be endured/experienced
• भोक्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भुज् (धातु)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्यय (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि प्रयोगः — ‘must be experienced’

• फलम्: fruit, result
• फलम्: Karma (कर्म/that which is experienced)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन

• पापस्य: of sin
• पापस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• कर्मणः: of the action/deed
• कर्मणः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that desire becomes a binding force (pāśa): when one lives as “kāmarūpī” (shaped by craving), one must inevitably undergo the karmic fruits of sinful actions, until turning toward Shiva as Pati (the liberating Lord).

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

Linga-worship centers the mind on Shiva beyond fluctuating desires; by devotion and disciplined worship, the pashu (bound soul) loosens pasha (bondage) and becomes fit for Shiva’s grace, which alone leads to freedom from compulsive karma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and a vow of restraint (niyama) to weaken kāma-driven habits and purify karma.