Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62
कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”
दृष्ट्वा मुखमभिप्रायं विदित्वा सोपि मन्मथः । स्वबाणान्संजहाराशु भीतः पशुपतेर्मुने
dṛṣṭvā mukhamabhiprāyaṃ viditvā sopi manmathaḥ | svabāṇānsaṃjahārāśu bhītaḥ paśupatermune
(شیو کے) چہرے کو دیکھ کر اور اس کے باطنی ارادے کو جان کر، منمتھ نے بھی—اے مُنی—پشوپتی کے خوف سے اپنے تیر فوراً سمیٹ لیے۔
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; the verse highlights Paśupati’s sovereignty that terrifies Kāma and compels withdrawal of desire’s instruments.
Significance: Teaches vairāgya: when Paśupati’s intention is perceived, kāma (desire) retreats; supports pilgrim practice of sense-restraint and tapas.
FAQs
The verse shows that kāma (desire), personified as Manmatha, loses its power before Paśupati’s will; in Shaiva Siddhānta, liberation begins when the soul turns from pasha-like impulses and aligns with the Lord’s sovereign grace and discipline.
Paśupati here is Saguna Śiva—personally present and commanding—before whom even cosmic forces submit; Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize Śiva’s supreme lordship and to withdraw the mind from sense-arrows toward steady devotion.
A practical takeaway is pratyāhāra (withdrawing the senses) supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and, where traditional, applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder to restrain desire and remain under Paśupati’s guidance.