Shloka 4

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

पुष्पाणि सहकाराणामशोकवनिकासु वै । विरेजुस्सुस्मरोद्दीपकाराणि सुरभीण्यपि

Transliteration

puṣpāṇi sahakārāṇāmaśokavanikāsu vai | virejussusmaroddīpakārāṇi surabhīṇyapi

Translation

അശോകവനികകളിൽ സഹകാര (മാവിന്റെ) പുഷ്പങ്ങൾ സുഗന്ധത്തോടെ ദീപ്തമായി തിളങ്ങി; അവ സുകുമാര സ്മരനെ (കാമനെ) ഉദ്ദീപിപ്പിക്കുന്നവയായി മാറി।

Word by Word

• पुष्पाणि: flowers
• पुष्पाणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सहकाराणाम्: of the mango trees
• सहकाराणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अशोक-वनिकासु: in the Aśoka-groves
• अशोक-वनिकासु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशोक (प्रातिपदिक) + वनिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/खल्वर्थक अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• विरेजुः: shone
• विरेजुः: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √राज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• सुस्मर-उद्दीप-काराणि: causing the arousal of sweet love
• सुस्मर-उद्दीप-काराणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + स्मर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुष्पाणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्; अर्थः—‘सुमधुरस्मरं उद्दीपयन्ति’

• सुरभीणि: fragrant
• सुरभीणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पुष्पाणि इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Rudra Samhita’s Parvati Khanda narration)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga reference; the verse uses spring flora (mango blossoms in aśoka groves) as Kāma’s instruments to inflame desire—an instance of worldly allure functioning as veiling/entangling power.

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva
• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse uses the fragrance and radiance of blossoms to symbolize how worldly desire can arise powerfully, yet in Shaiva understanding it becomes spiritually meaningful when oriented toward Shiva—desire is refined into devotion that supports the divine unfolding of Shiva–Parvati.

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

It sets the devotional atmosphere for Saguna Shiva’s līlā: emotions and beauty in creation become offerings of the mind. In Linga-worship, such stirred feelings are redirected into dhyāna and pūjā, stabilizing the heart in Shiva rather than in mere sense-objects.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the awakened emotion as fuel for japa and contemplation—especially Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—and mentally offer sensory impressions (scent, color, beauty) into Shiva during pūjā or meditation, cultivating vairāgya with bhakti.