Shloka 17

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

आलीढस्थानमासाद्य धनुराकृष्य यत्नतः । चकार वलयाकारं कामो धन्विवरस्तदा

Transliteration

ālīḍhasthānamāsādya dhanurākṛṣya yatnataḥ | cakāra valayākāraṃ kāmo dhanvivarastadā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ശ്രേഷ്ഠനായ വില്ലാളി കാമദേവൻ ആലീഢ ഭാവത്തിൽ നിലയുറപ്പിക്കുകയും പ്രയത്നപൂർവ്വം വില്ല് വലിച്ച് അതിനെ വട്ടത്തിലാക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു.

Word by Word

• आलीढस्थानम्: the ālīḍha stance/position
• आलीढस्थानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आलीढ + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘आलीढं स्थानम्’ (the ālīḍha stance/position)

• आसाद्य: having assumed/reached
• आसाद्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having reached/assumed’

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आकृष्य: having drawn
• आकृष्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund): ‘having drawn/pulled’

• यत्नतः: with effort
• यत्नतः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्यय (adverbial ablative): ‘with effort/earnestly’

• चकार: made/did
• चकार: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वलयाकारम्: a ring-like form
• वलयाकारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वलय + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘वलयस्य आकारः’ (shape of a bracelet/ring)

• कामः: Kāma (Cupid)
• कामः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धन्विवरः: the best of archers
• धन्विवरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन्विन् + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘धन्विनां वरः’ (best among archers)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kālādhi karaṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time: then)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satī-khaṇḍa account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Kama

FAQs

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

The verse dramatizes kāma (desire) being deliberately “aimed” and given form; in Shaiva Siddhānta, liberation requires recognizing desire as a binding impulse (pāśa) that must be mastered by devotion and discrimination oriented to Pati (Śiva).

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

In the Satī-khaṇḍa narrative, Kāma’s action highlights the tension between worldly impulse and Śiva’s austere, transcendent focus; worship of the Liṅga (Saguna symbol leading to Nirguna realization) trains the mind away from desire toward steadiness in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is restraint of the senses through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna on the Liṅga, treating rising desire as an object to be observed and released rather than acted upon.