Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 17
कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility
भस्मसात्कृतवान्साधो मदनं तावदेव हि । यावच्च मरुतां वाचः क्षम्यतां क्षम्यतामिति
bhasmasātkṛtavānsādho madanaṃ tāvadeva hi | yāvacca marutāṃ vācaḥ kṣamyatāṃ kṣamyatāmiti
اے نیک بندے! آپ نے مدن کو اتنی ہی دیر میں راکھ کر دیا جتنی دیر مرُتوں کی صدا ‘معاف کیجیے، معاف کیجیے’ سنائی دیتی رہی۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: Kāma is reduced to ashes (bhasma) by Śiva’s netrāgni; the Maruts plead for forgiveness—an etiological moment for the ‘Ananga’ state of Kāma in later tradition.
Significance: Teaches vairāgya: kāma is consumable by jñāna and tapas; also models intercession and the turn from wrath to grace.
Mantra: kṣamyatāṃ kṣamyatām iti (quoted plea)
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva’s sovereign power over kāma (desire) and also His compassion: even when desire is destroyed, divine grace responds to sincere supplication, showing that liberation comes through Shiva’s lordship (Pati) loosening the bonds (pāśa) that bind the soul (paśu).
Kāma-dahana is a Saguna Shiva līlā demonstrating that the Lord is both the purifier and the merciful protector. In Linga-worship, devotees approach Shiva as the tangible focus of surrender, praying for the burning of inner passions and the bestowal of śānti (peace) and anugraha (grace).
A practical takeaway is to pray for forgiveness and purification while practicing Shiva-upāsanā—regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and wearing Tripuṇḍra/bhasma as a reminder to reduce ego and desire to “ashes” through devotion and restraint.