Shloka 18
कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva
नीलकंठं महादेवं सगणं तत्पुरःस्थिताः । अकार्षुमोहितं भावं मृगाश्च पक्षिणस्तथा
nīlakaṃṭhaṃ mahādevaṃ sagaṇaṃ tatpuraḥsthitāḥ | akārṣumohitaṃ bhāvaṃ mṛgāśca pakṣiṇastathā
नीलकण्ठं महादेवं सगणं पुरतः स्थिताः; मृगाः पक्षिणश्चापि मोहितभावं समापेदिरे।
Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it depicts Śiva as Nīlakaṇṭha with gaṇas, whose presence enchants even animals—an image of cosmic charisma and māyā-śakti operating under the Lord.
Significance: Darśana of Śiva is portrayed as so potent it stills and captivates nature; encourages devotees to seek temple-sannidhya where the mind becomes ‘mohita’—turned away from distractions toward the divine.
Type: stotra
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It shows the overwhelming śakti of Śiva’s saguna presence: even animals become inwardly transformed, illustrating that all beings (paśu) can be touched by Pati (the Lord) when the mind (bhāva) is seized by divine attraction.
The verse emphasizes darśana of Śiva in a manifest, approachable form (saguna)—Nīlakaṇṭha with His gaṇas—highlighting how focused presence and devotion can absorb the mind, which is the inner aim of Liṅga worship as well.
Cultivate steady darśana and smaraṇa (remembrance) of Śiva—especially Nīlakaṇṭha—supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to draw the mind away from distraction and into one-pointed devotion.