Shloka 15

अनरण्यसुता–पिप्पलादचरितम् / The Episode of Anaraṇya’s Daughter and Sage Pippalāda

Devanagari script

सहस्रसुन्दरीकान्तं कामशास्त्रविशारदम् । किंकरं कुरु मां कान्ते सम्परित्यज्य तं पतिम्

Transliteration

sahasrasundarīkāntaṃ kāmaśāstraviśāradam | kiṃkaraṃ kuru māṃ kānte samparityajya taṃ patim

Translation

اے کانتے! اُس شوہر کو چھوڑ کر مجھے اپنا خادمِ خاص بنا لو—میں ہزاروں حسیناؤں کا محبوب اور کام شاستر کا ماہر ہوں۔

Word by Word

• सहस्र-सुन्दरी-कान्तम्: beloved of a thousand beautiful women
• सहस्र-सुन्दरी-कान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सुन्दरी (प्रातिपदिक) + कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माम्)

• काम-शास्त्र-विशारदम्: skilled in the treatise of love
• काम-शास्त्र-विशारदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + शास्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (माम्)

• किंकरम्: a servant
• किंकरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मप्रवचनीयार्थे (as object-complement)

• कुरु: make
• कुरु: Preraka-kriya (आज्ञार्थ-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• कान्ते: O beloved
• कान्ते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ता/कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• सम्परित्यज्य: having completely abandoned
• सम्परित्यज्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् + परि + त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

Speaker

A lustful tempter (a kāmuka), addressing Pārvatī (Umā) in the narrative of her chastity and steadfastness toward Śiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts kāma (desire) attempting to divert the seeker from dharma and one-pointed devotion; Pārvatī’s implied steadfastness highlights Shaiva discipline—mastery over sense-impulses (pāśa) to remain aligned with Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse functions as a narrative contrast: worldly allurements promise pleasure, while devotion to Saguna Śiva (as the chosen Lord) demands fidelity, purity, and inner steadiness—qualities central to Linga-worship and vrata observances.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice restraint (brahmacarya/indriya-nigraha) and reaffirm devotion through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supported by simple Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and focused worship during vrata days (e.g., Mahāśivarātri).