Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

संध्यां सर्वे निरीक्षंतस्सविकारं मुहुर्मुहुः । आसन् प्रवृद्धमदनाः स्त्री यस्मान्मदनैधिनी

Transliteration

saṃdhyāṃ sarve nirīkṣaṃtassavikāraṃ muhurmuhuḥ | āsan pravṛddhamadanāḥ strī yasmānmadanaidhinī

Translation

वे सब बार-बार संध्या को विकारयुक्त चित्त से देखते रहे; क्योंकि वह ऐसी स्त्री थी जो मदन को प्रज्वलित करती है, इसलिए उनमें काम अत्यन्त बढ़ गया।

Word by Word

• संध्याम्: Sandhyā (twilight goddess)
• संध्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (implicit subject)

• निरीक्षन्तः: looking at
• निरीक्षन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—शतृ (present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; “while looking”

• स-विकारम्: with agitation
• स-विकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (अव्यय/उपसर्गवत्) + विकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभावः “विकारसहितम्” (with perturbation)

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (repeatedly)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—पुनरुक्ति (intensification)

• आसन्: were
• आसन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपदम्

• प्रवृद्ध-मदनाः: with intensified desire
• प्रवृद्ध-मदनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-वृध् (धातु) → प्रवृद्ध (कृदन्त) + मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः “प्रवृद्धः मदनः येषाम्/येषु” (having heightened passion)

• स्त्री: a woman
• स्त्री: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यस्मात्: from whom/because of whom
• यस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन (m./n.)

• मदन-एधिनी: one who kindles passion
• मदन-एधिनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक) + एधिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः “मदनं एधयति” (that which kindles desire)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Sandhyā
• Kāma (Madana)

FAQs

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

It highlights how repeated sense-fixation (again and again looking) produces vikāra—mental disturbance—and strengthens kāma, a binding force (pāśa). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, mastery over such agitation supports purity and steadiness needed for Shiva-bhakti and liberation.

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

The verse contrasts outward fascination with inward recollection. In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—the gaze and mind are trained to rest on Shiva’s symbol, transforming the same faculty of attention from desire to devotion, and from distraction to dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is indriya-nigraha (restraint) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with sattvic disciplines such as applying tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and maintaining a devotional focus to reduce vikāra and kāma.