Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 72

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति तस्य वचः श्रुत्वा ब्रह्माहं जगतां पतिः । प्रत्यवोचं यतात्मानं मदनं दमयन्मुहुः

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti tasya vacaḥ śrutvā brahmāhaṃ jagatāṃ patiḥ | pratyavocaṃ yatātmānaṃ madanaṃ damayanmuhuḥ

Translation

ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ—ਉਸ ਦੇ ਬਚਨ ਸੁਣ ਕੇ ਮੈਂ, ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ, ਜਗਤਾਂ ਦਾ ਪਤੀ, ਉਸ ਜਿਤਾਤਮਾ ਨੂੰ ਉੱਤਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ; ਅਤੇ ਆਪਣੇ ਮਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਮਦਨ (ਕਾਮਦੇਵ) ਨੂੰ ਵਾਰ ਵਾਰ ਦਬਾਉਂਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ।

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive)

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु) + त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: अव्ययकृदन्त (क्त्वान्त/gerund); पूर्वकाल (having heard)

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• जगताम्: of worlds/of beings
• जगताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; बहुवचन; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive)

• पतिः: lord
• पतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative)

• प्रत्यवोचम्: I replied
• प्रत्यवोचम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-अव-वच् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist); उत्तमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यत-आत्मानम्: the self-controlled one
• यत-आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यत (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); विशेषणम्; समासः—कर्मधारयः: यतश्चासौ आत्मा (self-controlled)

• मदनम्: Madana (Kāma)
• मदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative)

• दमयन्: subduing
• दमयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दम् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; एकवचन; प्रथमा; कर्तरि—'subduing' (agreeing with 'अहम्/ब्रह्मा')

• मुहुः: again and again
• मुहुः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; काल/आवृत्तिवाचक (adverb: repeatedly)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Madana (Kama)

FAQs

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

It highlights mastery over desire (kāma) as a prerequisite for dharmic speech and right action—an inner discipline that supports devotion to Pati (Śiva) by loosening the bonds (pāśa) that agitate the mind.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna-Śiva devotion are strengthened when the devotee restrains sense-impulses; the verse models the yogic composure needed to approach Śiva with steadiness, purity, and focused bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with a steady mind—especially the Panchākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—along with basic restraint of the senses; this is the practical method to subdue kāma and keep the mind fit for worship.