Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

तच्च भ्रूयुगलं ब्रह्मन् हावभावयुतं मुहुः । नानाभावानकार्षीच्च दांपत्यक्रममुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tacca bhrūyugalaṃ brahman hāvabhāvayutaṃ muhuḥ | nānābhāvānakārṣīcca dāṃpatyakramamuttamam

Translation

ब्रह्मन्, तत् भ्रूयुगलं मुहुर्मुहुः हावभावयुतं स्नेहजं ललितं दर्शयामास; नानाभावान् अकार्षीत्, दाम्पत्यक्रममुत्तमं प्रकाशयत्।

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र ‘तत्’ = ‘that’ (referring to previous object)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: “and”)

• भ्रूयुगलम्: pair of eyebrows
• भ्रूयुगलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhrū + yugala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (भ्रुवोः युगलम् = pair of eyebrows)

• ब्रह्मन्: O Brahman (sage)
• ब्रह्मन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative, Singular)

• हावभावयुतम्: endowed with coquettish gestures and expressions
• हावभावयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hāva + bhāva + yuta (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समास: द्वन्द्व (हाव + भाव) ततः तत्पुरुष (हावभावैः युतम् = endowed with gestures and expressions)

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: आवृत्तिवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: repeatedly/again and again)

• नानाभावान्: various emotions/expressions
• नानाभावान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nānā + bhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Masculine, Accusative, Plural); कर्मधारय: नानाविधाः भावाः

• अकार्षीत्: did/made
• अकार्षीत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Imperfective past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular); परस्मैपद

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• दांपत्यक्रमम्: the course of conjugal conduct
• दांपत्यक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāṃpatya + krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (दांपत्यस्य क्रमः = course/sequence of conjugal life)

• उत्तमम्: excellent
• उत्तमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying दांपत्यक्रमम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it poetically describes the brows/expressions producing hāva-bhāva, implying māyā’s aesthetic power to enchant and regulate relational harmony.

Significance: Teaches devotees to sublimate emotion into dharmic harmony; aesthetic experience becomes a doorway to contemplative peace when seen as Śiva’s līlā rather than mere sense-captivation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Sati

FAQs

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

It highlights that refined bhāva (inner devotional-emotional state) expresses itself outwardly as harmony and auspicious conduct; in Shaiva thought, such purity of feeling supports dharma and steadies the mind for devotion to Pati (Shiva).

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

By portraying sacred conjugal harmony and affectionate bhāvas, the text emphasizes Saguna Shiva’s accessible, relational grace—devotees can approach Shiva not only as the transcendent Linga (Nirguna-symbol) but also as the compassionate Lord who sanctifies human life-stages.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śuddha-bhāva through japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and mindful self-restraint; the practical takeaway is to purify emotion into devotion so that conduct becomes naturally harmonious.