Shloka 42

कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility

Devanagari script

तावच्च नगरं तस्य रते स्थेयं यथासुखम् । तत्रैव स्वपतेः प्राप्तिः प्रद्युम्नस्य भविष्यति

Transliteration

tāvacca nagaraṃ tasya rate stheyaṃ yathāsukham | tatraiva svapateḥ prāptiḥ pradyumnasya bhaviṣyati

Translation

അതിനിടയിൽ നീ ആ നഗരത്തിൽ ഇഷ്ടമെന്നപോലെ സന്തോഷത്തോടെ വസിക്കൂ; അവിടെയേ നിന്റെ സ്വപതി പ്രദ്യുമ്നന്റെ വരവും പ്രാപ്തിയും നിശ്ചയമായി സംഭവിക്കും।

Word by Word

• तावत्: until then/so long
• तावत्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), कालपरिमाणवाचक (temporal adverb): 'so long/till then'

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• नगरम्: city
• नगरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nagara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (m./n.), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• रते: in/at Rati (name)
• रते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• स्थेयम्: should stay/should remain
• स्थेयम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (धाातु) + ya (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृत्य-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/obligative), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (Nom./Acc. sg); अर्थः—'स्थातव्यम्' (should be stayed)

• यथा: as/according to
• यथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), उपमान/प्रकारवाचक (manner)

• सुखम्: comfortably/with ease
• सुखम्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); अव्ययीभावार्थे क्रियाविशेषणवत् (used adverbially)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारण-निपात (emphatic particle)

• स्वपतेः: of (her) husband
• स्वपतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svapati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• प्राप्तिः: attainment/meeting
• प्राप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāpti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• प्रद्युम्नस्य: of Pradyumna
• प्रद्युम्नस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• भविष्यति: will happen/will be
• भविष्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Pradyumna

FAQs

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

It emphasizes steadiness and trust in ordained timing: one should remain composed and dharmic, knowing that rightful outcomes unfold by divine order under Śiva’s governance of karma and destiny.

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

Though not explicitly about Liṅga worship, the verse reflects Saguna Śiva’s role as compassionate Lord who arranges events for devotees; trusting His providence is itself a form of bhakti aligned with Purāṇic devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is patient, prayerful remembrance—mentally repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while maintaining dharma—rather than impulsive action, until the destined meeting occurs.