Shloka 1

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

अचेतसामपि तदा कामासक्तिरभून्मुने । सुचेतासां हि जीवानां सेति किं वर्ण्यते कथा

Transliteration

acetasāmapi tadā kāmāsaktirabhūnmune | sucetāsāṃ hi jīvānāṃ seti kiṃ varṇyate kathā

Translation

முனிவரே! அப்போது சிந்தனை அற்றவர்களுக்குக் கூட காம ஆசை ஏற்பட்டது; அப்படியிருக்க, முழு விழிப்புள்ள உயிர்களைப் பற்றி இன்னும் என்ன சொல்ல இயலும்—இந்தக் கதையை எவ்வாறு வர்ணிப்பது?

Word by Word

• अचेतसाम्: of the unthinking
• अचेतसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘of the senseless/unaware’

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• तदा: then
• तदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• कामासक्तिः: attachment to desire
• कामासक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम + आसक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘कामे आसक्तिः’ (attachment to desire)

• अभूत्: arose, occurred
• अभूत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ् (Aorist), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; परस्मैपदम्

• मुने: O sage
• मुने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• सुचेतासाम्: of the wise
• सुचेतासाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुचेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; ‘of the clear-minded’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• जीवानाम्: of living beings
• जीवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• सा: that (attachment)
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम-रूपम्

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्ति-निपात (quotative particle)

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; प्रश्नार्थक-सर्वनाम

• वर्ण्यते: is to be described
• वर्ण्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्; आत्मनेपदम्/कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive sense)

• कथा: story, account
• कथा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कथा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General teaching on the overpowering spread of kāma (desire) under the conditions of spring and delusion; not tied to a Jyotirliṅga site.

FAQs

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

It highlights kāma (desire) as a powerful form of pāśa (bondage): if even the dull-minded fall into attachment, then for ordinary conscious beings the pull of passion is even stronger—therefore one must seek Shiva-centered discipline, devotion, and discernment.

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

By emphasizing how easily the mind becomes desire-driven, the verse supports the need for Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-pūjā) as a stabilizing focus—redirecting attention from fleeting objects toward Shiva, the compassionate Pati who loosens bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate japa and restraint: repeat the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a steady mind, and support it with simple Shiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and daily remembrance to reduce kāmāsakti (attachment to desire).