Shloka 24

Devanagari script

न जातु कामः कामानाम् उपभोगेन शाम्यति हविषा कृष्णवर्त्मेव भूय एवाभिवर्धते

Transliteration

na jātu kāmaḥ kāmānām upabhogena śāmyati haviṣā kṛṣṇavartmeva bhūya evābhivardhate

Translation

इच्छित विषयांचा उपभोग केल्याने काम कधीही शांत होत नाही; हविर्भागांनी पोसलेल्या अग्नीप्रमाणे तो अधिकच वाढतो. म्हणून पशु (बद्ध जीव) वैराग्याने काम संयमित करून मन पती—भगवान् शिव—यांच्याकडे वळवो; तेच पाश (बंधन) छेदतात.

Word by Word

• na: not

• jātu: ever/at any time

• kāmaḥ: desire/craving

• kāmānām: of desired objects/pleasures

• upabhogena: by enjoyment/consumption

• śāmyati: becomes calm/is extinguished

• haviṣā: by oblations (ghee-offerings)

• kṛṣṇa-vartmā: the dark-pathed one, i.e., fire/smoke-trailing flame

• iva: like

• bhūyaḥ: again/further

• eva: indeed

• abhivardhate: increases/grows

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva dharma instruction within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-worship as inner purification: mere indulgence strengthens kāma, so the devotee approaches the Linga with restraint, offering the mind itself into Śiva, the Pati, to loosen pāśa.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By implication, Śiva-tattva is the liberating principle beyond craving—Pati who is not increased by objects and who grants śānti by cutting the bonds that keep the pashu circling in desire.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Kāma-nigraha through vairāgya as a core Pāśupata-Yogic discipline—treating sense-objects like fuel to a fire and instead redirecting attention to Śiva through japa, dhyāna, and sattvic pūjā.