Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

सुधादृष्ट्या शूलभृतो भस्मतो निर्गतः स्मरः । तद्रूपवेषचिह्नात्मा सुन्दरोद्भुतमूर्तिमान्

Transliteration

sudhādṛṣṭyā śūlabhṛto bhasmato nirgataḥ smaraḥ | tadrūpaveṣacihnātmā sundarodbhutamūrtimān

Translation

三叉戟を執るシヴァの、甘露のごとき慈悲深い一瞥によって、スマラ（カーマ）は灰の中より現れ出た――そのままの姿・装い・印を帯び、驚くほど美しい妙なる身を得た。

Word by Word

• सुधा-दृष्ट्या: by the nectar-like glance
• सुधा-दृष्ट्या: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + दृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुधायाः दृष्टिः)

• शूल-भृतः: of the trident-bearer (Śiva)
• शूल-भृतः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (शूलं बिभर्ति इति)

• भस्मतः: from the ashes
• भस्मतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भस्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• निर्गतः: came out/emerged
• निर्गतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निर् + गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोग (as adjectival predicate)

• स्मरः: Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• तत्-रूप-वेष-चिह्न-आत्मा: whose nature bore that form, dress, and marks
• तत्-रूप-वेष-चिह्न-आत्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + वेष (प्रातिपदिक) + चिह्न (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (यस्य आत्मा तत्-रूप-वेष-चिह्नयुक्तः)

• सुन्दर-उद्भुत-मूर्तिमान्: having a beautiful and wondrous form
• सुन्दर-उद्भुत-मूर्तिमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्भुत (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-समाससमूह (सुन्दरा च उद्भुता च मूर्तिः यस्य सः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) whose grace can restore what was reduced to ashes—symbolizing that even desire, when purified by divine compassion, can be transformed and made fit to serve dharma rather than bind the soul.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Śiva’s active, compassionate lordship: through a personal act (His glance) He bestows restoration and auspicious form. In Linga worship, devotees seek this same anugraha (grace) that purifies and reconstitutes life toward Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Śiva’s ash (bhasma) as the sign of burning away bondage and offer Tripuṇḍra-bhasma with remembrance of His grace; pair it with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” praying that passions be purified rather than suppressed or indulged.