Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23
काम-शक्र-संवादः / Dialogue of Kāma and Śakra
Indra
पंचैव मृदवो बाणास्ते च पुष्पमया मम । चापस्त्रिधा पुष्पमयश्शिंजिनी भ्रमरार्ज्जिता । बलं सुदयिता मे हि वसंतः सचिवस्स्मृतः
paṃcaiva mṛdavo bāṇāste ca puṣpamayā mama | cāpastridhā puṣpamayaśśiṃjinī bhramarārjjitā | balaṃ sudayitā me hi vasaṃtaḥ sacivassmṛtaḥ
میرے پانچ تیر نرم ہیں اور پھولوں سے بنے ہیں۔ میرا کمان بھی سہ گانہ اور پھولوں کا ہے؛ بھنوروں سے آراستہ اس کی ڈوری میٹھی گونج پیدا کرتی ہے۔ میری قوت میری محبوبہ ہے؛ اور بسنت کو میرا وزیر یاد کیا جاتا ہے۔
Kama (Manmatha), as described within the Rudrasaṃhitā narrative
Tattva Level: pasha
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
The verse personifies desire (Kama) as gentle yet binding—flower-made weapons show that attachment can appear sweet, but it still pierces the mind; Shaiva Siddhanta stresses mastery of kama through devotion and discernment to move toward Shiva-realization.
In Linga/Saguna Shiva worship, the devotee offers flowers outwardly while inwardly restraining the ‘flower-arrows’ of desire; the Linga becomes a focus for turning attraction away from fleeting objects toward Shiva, the स्थिर (steady) Reality.
Practice japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with breath awareness and sense-restraint, especially in springtime or festival seasons, converting emotional agitation into bhakti and inner steadiness.