Shloka 35

कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility

Devanagari script

दुःखं तस्या रतेर्दृष्ट्वा नष्टप्रायाश्च देवताः । तस्मात्त्वया च कर्त्तव्यं रत्याशोकापनोदनम्

Transliteration

duḥkhaṃ tasyā raterdṛṣṭvā naṣṭaprāyāśca devatāḥ | tasmāttvayā ca karttavyaṃ ratyāśokāpanodanam

Translation

दुःखं तस्या रतेर्दृष्ट्वा नष्टप्रायाश्च देवताः । तस्मात्त्वया च कर्त्तव्यं रत्याशोकापनोदनम् ॥

Word by Word

• दुःखम्: sorrow
• दुःखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• तस्याः: of her
• तस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• रतेः: of Rati
• रतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + त्वा (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययवत् — Having seen

• नष्ट-प्रायाः: almost destroyed
• नष्ट-प्रायाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नश् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) + प्राय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (नष्टाः प्रायः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Plural; विशेषण (of देवताः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• देवताः: the deities
• देवताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन — Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: हेतुवाचक-अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'therefore/from that')

• त्वया: by you
• त्वया: Kartr-karana (कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular

• च: also/and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कर्तव्यम्: should be done
• कर्तव्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भाव्य/विधेय कृदन्त (तव्यत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Gerundive; Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular; 'must be done'

• रत्याः: of Rati
• रत्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन — Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• शोक-अपनोदनम्: removal of grief
• शोक-अपनोदनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोक (प्रातिपदिक) + अपनोदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शोकस्य अपनोदनम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन — Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana’s account to the sages, reporting the gods’ resolve)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Rati

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Rati
• Devatas

FAQs

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

It highlights daiva-dayā (divine compassion): when a devotee or righteous being is overwhelmed by suffering, dharmic action is urged to restore balance—reflecting Shaiva ethics where grace and right effort work together.

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

Though the verse is narrative, it aligns with Saguna Shiva devotion: devotees approach Shiva as the compassionate Lord who removes śoka (grief) and grants śānti, a common fruit of Linga worship and Shiva-bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śānti-oriented Shiva upāsanā—japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with prayer for śoka-nivṛtti (removal of grief), optionally supported by bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva aids.