Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62
कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”
दृष्ट्वा मुखमभिप्रायं विदित्वा सोपि मन्मथः । स्वबाणान्संजहाराशु भीतः पशुपतेर्मुने
dṛṣṭvā mukhamabhiprāyaṃ viditvā sopi manmathaḥ | svabāṇānsaṃjahārāśu bhītaḥ paśupatermune
(சிவனின்) முகத்தைப் பார்த்து, அவரது உள்ளக்கருத்தை அறிந்து, மன்மதனும்—ஓ முனிவரே—பசுபதியை அஞ்சி தன் அம்புகளை உடனே திரும்பப் பெற்றான்।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the verse highlights Paśupati’s sovereignty that terrifies Kāma and compels withdrawal of desire’s instruments.
Significance: Teaches vairāgya: when Paśupati’s intention is perceived, kāma (desire) retreats; supports pilgrim practice of sense-restraint and tapas.
FAQs
The verse shows that kāma (desire), personified as Manmatha, loses its power before Paśupati’s will; in Shaiva Siddhānta, liberation begins when the soul turns from pasha-like impulses and aligns with the Lord’s sovereign grace and discipline.
Paśupati here is Saguna Śiva—personally present and commanding—before whom even cosmic forces submit; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize Śiva’s supreme lordship and to withdraw the mind from sense-arrows toward steady devotion.
A practical takeaway is pratyāhāra (withdrawing the senses) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and, where traditional, applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder to restrain desire and remain under Paśupati’s guidance.