Shloka 38
Śumbha–Niśumbha-pīḍā and Devastuti to Durgā/Śivā
Names and Forms of the Devī
स्त्रीरत्नं त्वामहं मन्ये सर्वरत्नोपरि स्थितम् । सा त्वं ममानुजं मां वा भजतात्कामजै रसैः
strīratnaṃ tvāmahaṃ manye sarvaratnopari sthitam | sā tvaṃ mamānujaṃ māṃ vā bhajatātkāmajai rasaiḥ
നിന്നെ ഞാൻ സ്ത്രീരത്നമായി കരുതുന്നു; സർവ രത്നങ്ങളിലുമുപരി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നവളായി. അതിനാൽ നിന്റെ ഇഷ്ടപ്രകാരം എന്റെ അനുജനെയോ എന്നെയോ സ്വീകരിച്ച് കാമജന്യ രസങ്ങളിൽ ആനന്ദിക്കു.
A male narrator/kingly figure within the Uma-saṁhitā dialogue (contextual speaker addressing a woman)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights worldly attraction (kāma) and choice, serving as a narrative contrast to Shaiva Siddhanta’s higher aim: turning from transient rasa (sense-delight) toward devotion to Pati (Shiva) for liberation.
By showing the pull of desire and social proposals, the text implicitly points to the need for steadiness (niyama) and purification; Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upāsanā) is presented elsewhere in the Purana as the means to sublimate desire into bhakti.
No direct ritual is prescribed in this line; as a practical takeaway, Shaiva practice would recommend japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct to master kāma rather than be mastered by it.