Shloka 30

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

नोवाच च तदा दक्षं कामो मोदभवात्ततः । विस्मृत्य दारुणं शापं विधिदत्तं विमोहितः

Transliteration

novāca ca tadā dakṣaṃ kāmo modabhavāttataḥ | vismṛtya dāruṇaṃ śāpaṃ vidhidattaṃ vimohitaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ആനന്ദത്തിൽ മുങ്ങിയ കാമൻ മോഹിതനായി ദക്ഷനോട് സംസാരിച്ചു; ബ്രഹ്മദത്തമായ ആ ഭയങ്കര ശാപം അവൻ മറന്നു പോയി.

Word by Word

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (negation particle)

• uvāca: said/spoke
• uvāca: Kriyā (मुख्यक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) → uvāca
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (conjunction)

• tadā: then
• tadā: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Kāla-avyaya (temporal adverb)

• dakṣam: Dakṣa
• dakṣam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• kāmaḥ: Kāma (god of desire)
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• moda-bhavāt: from the arising of joy
• moda-bhavāt: Hetu (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: moda (प्रातिपदिक) + bhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Pañcamī, Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa—modasya bhavaḥ (arising from joy); ablative of cause

• tataḥ: thereupon
• tataḥ: Kāla/Hetu (काल/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Ablative adverb (tataḥ) indicating ‘thereupon/therefrom’

• vismṛtya: having forgotten
• vismṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग) → vismṛtya (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive (gerund) in -tvā, ‘having forgotten’

• dāruṇam: terrible
• dāruṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dāruṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies śāpam

• śāpam: curse
• śāpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śāpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vidhi-dattam: ordained/given by fate
• vidhi-dattam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vidhi (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (कृदन्त, क्त; √dā)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; samāsa: tatpuruṣa—vidhinā dattam (given by fate/ordinance); qualifies śāpam

• vimohitaḥ: deluded
• vimohitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: muh (धातु) + vi- (उपसर्ग) → vimohita (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; kta-participle used adjectivally, predicate of kāmaḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Satī narrative to the sages)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Daksha
• Kama
• Brahma (Vidhi)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights moha (delusion) born of pleasure: even powerful beings like Kāma can forget the binding force of karma and śāpa (curse). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, this reflects pāśa—bondage that veils right discernment—showing why grace and self-mastery are essential for liberation.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it indirectly contrasts desire-driven delusion with Shiva-oriented steadiness. Linga/Saguna Shiva worship trains the mind toward the Pati (Lord) rather than toward kāma, reducing moha and restoring dharmic clarity—an inner preparation central to the Satī–Dakṣa episode’s larger teaching.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to pacify desire and delusion, along with simple Shaiva disciplines like applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and cultivating vairāgya (dispassion) before worship.