Shloka 19

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । इति शम्भुवचः श्रुत्वा महानदन्स्स्मरस्ततः । उवाच साञ्जलिर्नम्रो गद्गदाक्षरया गिरा

Transliteration

brahmovāca | iti śambhuvacaḥ śrutvā mahānadanssmarastataḥ | uvāca sāñjalirnamro gadgadākṣarayā girā

Translation

พระพรหมตรัสว่า “ครั้นได้สดับพระวาจาแห่งศัมภูแล้ว สมระยินดีเป็นอย่างยิ่ง เขาประนมมือก้มด้วยความนอบน้อม แล้วกล่าวด้วยถ้อยคำสั่นเครือด้วยอารมณ์”

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• इति: thus
• इति: Vacana-prakāra (वचनप्रकार/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यर्थक-निपात (quotative particle)

• शम्भु-वचः: Śambhu’s words
• शम्भु-वचः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक) + वचस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शम्भोः वचः)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• महानदन्: roaring loudly
• महानदन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नद् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘स्मरः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

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

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• स-अञ्जलिः: with folded hands
• स-अञ्जलिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अञ्जलि (प्रातिपदिक) + स (उपसर्ग/अव्यय-पूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (अञ्जलिं कृत्वा/अञ्जलियुक्तः)

• नम्रः: humble
• नम्रः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (स्मरः)

• गद्गद-अक्षरया: with faltering syllables
• गद्गद-अक्षरया: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गद्गद (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (गद्गदानि अक्षराणि यस्याः सा)

• गिरा: by speech/voice
• गिरा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर्/गीर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama (Smara)

FAQs

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

It highlights how even powerful deities respond to Śiva’s instruction with humility (añjali, namratā). In Shaiva understanding, true alignment with Pati (Śiva) begins with reverent surrender rather than ego.

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

The verse models Saguna-bhakti: hearing Śiva’s words, responding with folded hands and devotion. This same attitude is central to Linga worship—approaching Śiva as the compassionate Lord who is accessible through reverence and prayer.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice śravaṇa (devotional listening) and añjali-mudrā with bowed posture while reciting “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating a steady, humble mind before Śiva.