Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

संध्याचरित्रवर्णनम् (Sandhyā-caritra-varṇana) — “Account of Sandhyā’s Story”

Devanagari script

संध्यायाश्चलितं चित्तं कामबाणविलोडितम् । ऋषीणामपि संरुद्धमानसानां महात्मनाम्

Transliteration

saṃdhyāyāścalitaṃ cittaṃ kāmabāṇaviloḍitam | ṛṣīṇāmapi saṃruddhamānasānāṃ mahātmanām

Translation

സന്ധ്യാസമയത്ത് കാമബാണങ്ങൾ കൊണ്ട് കലക്കപ്പെട്ട്, മനസ്സിനെ നിയന്ത്രിച്ച മഹാത്മ ഋഷിമാരുടേയും ചിത്തം പോലും ചാഞ്ചല്യമാകുന്നു।

Word by Word

• सन्ध्यायाः: of Sandhyā
• सन्ध्यायाः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• चलितम्: agitated/moved
• चलितम्: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चल् (धातु) + चलित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) विशेषण of चित्तम्

• चित्तम्: mind
• चित्तम्: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कामबाणविलोडितम्: shaken by Kāma’s arrows
• कामबाणविलोडितम्: कर्तृ-समानााधिकरण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + बाण + विलोडित (प्रातिपदिक; विलोडित from वि-लुड्/लुड् ‘to churn/agitate’)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (‘agitated by the arrows of Kāma’), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण of चित्तम्

• ऋषीणाम्: of sages
• ऋषीणाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अप्यर्थ (even/also)

• संरुद्ध-मानसानाम्: of those with restrained minds
• संरुद्ध-मानसानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संरुद्ध (from सम्-रुध् धातु, कृदन्त) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (‘whose minds are restrained’); विशेषण of महात्मनाम्/ऋषीणाम्

• महात्मनाम्: of great souls
• महात्मनाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महात्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (‘great-souled ones’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana account to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Kama

FAQs

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

It highlights the Shaiva insight that desire (kāma) can disturb even disciplined minds; therefore, vigilance (apramāda) and sustained restraint are essential for purity, devotion, and liberation-oriented practice.

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

By showing the mind’s vulnerability, the verse supports the need for steadiness through Saguna Shiva-upāsanā—such as Linga worship—so the devotee anchors attention in Shiva and transcends agitation caused by sense-impulses.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Guard the mind especially at sandhyā by doing sandhyā-vandana-like japa and dhyāna; repeat the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with breath-awareness, and maintain disciplined conduct (brahmacharya/vairāgya) to reduce kama’s agitation.