Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 11

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मोवाच । कौसुमानि तथास्त्राणि पंचादाय मनोभवः । प्रच्छन्नरूपी तत्रैव चिंतयामास निश्चयम्

Transliteration

brahmovāca | kausumāni tathāstrāṇi paṃcādāya manobhavaḥ | pracchannarūpī tatraiva ciṃtayāmāsa niścayam

Translation

برہما نے کہا—منوبھو (کام دیو) اپنے پانچ پھولوں والے استر لے کر، چھپا ہوا روپ اختیار کیے، وہیں ٹھہر کر اپنے عزم پر غور کرنے لگا۔

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मा: Brahmā
• ब्रह्मा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• कौसुमानि: floral (weapons/objects)
• कौसुमानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• तथा: and also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/तथैव (also/likewise)

• अस्त्राणि: weapons
• अस्त्राणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन

• पञ्च: five
• पञ्च: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्द, द्वितीया (2nd) बहुवचनार्थे; ‘अस्त्राणि’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• मनोभवः: Manobhava (Kāma, born of mind)
• मनोभवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मनसः भवः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रच्छन्न-रूपी: in a concealed form
• प्रच्छन्न-रूपी: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रच्छन्न + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (प्रच्छन्नः रूपी), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘मनोभवः’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारण (emphasis/only)

• चिन्तयामास: he pondered
• चिन्तयामास: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चिन्त् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Periphrastic Perfect/परस्मैपद), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; ‘चिन्तय्’ धातोः

• निश्चयम्: a decision, resolve
• निश्चयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निश्चय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Kama (Manobhava)

FAQs

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

It highlights how desire (Kāma/Manobhava) operates subtly—often concealed—by forming firm intentions. In a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, such desire functions as a pasha (bond) that distracts the soul from steady orientation toward Pati (Shiva) and tapas.

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

The verse sets up the contrast between concealed desire and steadfast devotion. Linga/Saguna Shiva worship trains the mind toward Shiva’s presence and purity, countering the hidden movements of kama through mantra, dhyana, and disciplined bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is vigilance over sankalpa (intent): perform japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditate on Shiva to subdue impulsive desire; if aligned with tradition, support it with Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as aids to steadiness.