Shloka 3

काम-शक्र-संवादः / Dialogue of Kāma and Śakra

Indra

Devanagari script

प्रणामं च ततः कृत्वा स्थित्वा तत्पुरतस्स्मरः । महोन्नतमनास्तात सांजलिश्शक्रमब्रवीत्

Transliteration

praṇāmaṃ ca tataḥ kṛtvā sthitvā tatpuratassmaraḥ | mahonnatamanāstāta sāṃjaliśśakramabravīt

Translation

แล้วสมระ (กามเทพ) กราบคำนับ และยืนอยู่เบื้องหน้า ด้วยจิตอันผยองสูงส่ง ประนมมือแล้วกราบทูลศักระ (อินทรา) ว่า…

Word by Word

• प्रणामम्: salutation, obeisance
• प्रणामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

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

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: काल/क्रम-वाचक अव्यय (adverb of sequence: 'then/from there')

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having done'

• स्थित्वा: having stood
• स्थित्वा: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having stood/remained'

• तत्-पुरतः: in front of him
• तत्-पुरतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुरतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; स्थान-वाचक अव्यय (adverbial: 'in front of him/that')

• स्मरः: Smara (Kāma)
• स्मरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्मर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महा-उन्नत-मनाः: having a very exalted mind
• महा-उन्नत-मनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + उन्नत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्मरः)

• तात: O dear one / O sir
• तात: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन (address)

• स-अञ्जलिः: with joined palms
• स-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थक) + अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सह/सयुक्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying स्मरः)

• शक्रम्: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अब्रवीत्: said, spoke
• अब्रवीत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; within the narrative, Kāmadeva speaks to Indra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Kāmadeva
• Indra

FAQs

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

It highlights maryādā (sacred decorum): even powerful forces like Kāma must approach with humility, indicating that ego and impulsive desire should be restrained and disciplined—an attitude aligned with Shaiva self-mastery on the path toward grace (anugraha).

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

Though the Liṅga is not named here, the narrative frame in the Pārvatīkhaṇḍa commonly contrasts worldly desire with the higher orientation toward Śiva as Saguna Lord and ultimate Pati; the verse sets a tone of reverence that mirrors how devotees approach Śiva/Śiva-liṅga—through pranāma and añjali rather than demand.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is añjali and pranāma as a preparatory discipline: begin worship or japa with respectful bowing and a collected mind; this supports mantra-sādhana (including Om Namaḥ Śivāya) by calming desire-driven restlessness before meditation.