Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34
वसन्तस्वरूपवर्णनम् — Description of the Form/Nature of Vasant
a
मन्मथ उवाच । करिष्येहं तव विभो वचनाच्छंभुमोहनम् । किं तु योषिन्महास्त्रं मे तत्कांतां भगवन् सृज
manmatha uvāca | kariṣyehaṃ tava vibho vacanācchaṃbhumohanam | kiṃ tu yoṣinmahāstraṃ me tatkāṃtāṃ bhagavan sṛja
マन्मथは言った。「ああ、大いなる主よ。あなたのご命令により、私はシャンブ（シヴァ）を惑わそうと試みましょう。されど我が至上の武器は、女性の魅惑の力。ゆえに、福徳なる御方よ、その武器を用いるため、私のために愛しき乙女をお創りください。」
Manmatha (Kāma)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: creative
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It highlights that desire (kāma) tries to operate through fascination and attraction, yet Śiva as Pati is intrinsically beyond bondage; the verse sets up the contrast between worldly mohana (delusion) and Śiva’s transcendence, encouraging vairāgya and devotion.
The narrative underscores that Saguna Śiva—worshipped as the Liṅga—is not conquered by sensory charm; Liṅga-worship trains the mind to turn from outward attraction to the steady contemplation of Śiva, the unshaken inner reality.
A practical takeaway is to counter kāma with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and disciplined worship—especially on Mahāśivarātri—along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and Śiva-centered awareness.