Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

शङ्कर उवाच । प्रसन्नोहं तव स्तुत्या सनारीकस्य चित्तज । स्वयंभव वरम्बूहि वाञ्छितं तद्ददामि ते

Transliteration

śaṅkara uvāca | prasannohaṃ tava stutyā sanārīkasya cittaja | svayaṃbhava varambūhi vāñchitaṃ taddadāmi te

Translation

ശങ്കരൻ അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു—ഹേ സനാരീകന്റെ ചിത്തജാ! നിന്റെ സ്തുതിയാൽ ഞാൻ പ്രസന്നനാണ്. ഹേ സ്വയംഭവാ, ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന വരം പറയുക; അഭീഷ്ടം ഞാൻ നിനക്കു നൽകാം.

Word by Word

• शङ्करः: Shankara (Śiva)
• शङ्करः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शङ्कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (aham इत्यस्य)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन

• स्तुत्या: by (your) praise
• स्तुत्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• स-नारीकस्य: of (you) along with Nārīka
• स-नारीकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नारीक (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सहितः नारीकेन इति भावः)

• चित्तज: O mind-born one (Kāma)
• चित्तज: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + ज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (चित्तात् जायते इति)

• स्वयंभव: O Self-born (Brahmā)
• स्वयंभव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय) + भव (धातु/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वयमेव भवति इति)

• वरम्: a boon
• वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• ब्रूहि: tell (me)
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वाञ्छितम्: desired
• वाञ्छितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाञ्छित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वाञ्छ् धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मविशेषण (वरम् इत्यस्य)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• ददामि: I give
• ददामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ते: to you
• ते: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Śaṅkara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; however the epithet svayaṃbhava resonates with svayambhū-liṅga traditions where Śiva self-manifests and grants boons to devotees.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sanārīka

FAQs

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

The verse highlights Śiva’s anugraha (grace): sincere stuti (devotional praise) purifies the devotee and draws the Lord’s compassionate response, culminating in the granting of a boon aligned with dharma and spiritual upliftment.

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

Śaṅkara’s direct response to praise reflects Saguna worship—approaching Śiva as the personal Lord who hears devotion. In Linga-worship, stotra and namaskāra are central acts through which the devotee invokes Śiva’s presence and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular stuti and mantra-japa (especially Pañcākṣarī—"Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with devotion is implied; the practical takeaway is to worship with heartfelt praise, then make a dhārmic sankalpa (prayer/intent) for the boon of inner purity and liberation.