Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 49

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

अथ ब्रह्मा स्मरं प्रीत्याऽगदन्मे कुरु शासनम् । एभिस्सहैव गच्छ त्वं पुनश्च हरमोहने

Transliteration

atha brahmā smaraṃ prītyā'gadanme kuru śāsanam | ebhissahaiva gaccha tvaṃ punaśca haramohane

Translation

Kemudian Brahmā, dengan gembira, berkata kepada Kāma (Smara): “Laksanakan perintahku. Pergilah sekali lagi bersama para pengiring ini, dan di sana, dalam tugas memperdaya Hara (Śiva), teruskanlah.”

Word by Word

• अथ: then; now
• अथ: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• स्मरम्: Kāma (the god of love)
• स्मरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• प्रीत्या: with affection
• प्रीत्या: Hetu/Prakāra (हेतु/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; adverbial ‘with affection’

• अगदत्: said; spoke
• अगदत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गद् (धातु √गद्)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular

• मे: to me
• मे: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular

• कुरु: do
• कुरु: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु √कृ)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• शासनम्: command; instruction
• शासनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• एभिः: with these
• एभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (सह-योगार्थक)

• एव: indeed; just
• एव: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: Emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु √गम्)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (पुनरावृत्तिवाचक)

• च: and
• च: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चयबोधक)

• हरमोहने: in (the matter of) deluding Hara
• हरमोहने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरमोहना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; हरेः मोहनम् इति ‘in the deluding (of) Hara’ / ‘in Hara’s delusion’ (contextual)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahadeva

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kama (Smara)
• Shiva (Hara)

FAQs

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

It highlights the cosmic attempt to stir desire in Śiva, showing that worldly kāma can be used as a narrative instrument, yet Śiva (Pati) ultimately remains unconquered—teaching the seeker to transcend desire through devotion and discernment.

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

The verse sets up the contrast between desire-driven agitation and Śiva’s steady, auspicious presence; Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship trains the mind toward Śiva’s stability, reducing the sway of kāma and restoring inner alignment with dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter desire with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna on Śiva, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as reminders of vairāgya.