Shloka 18

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

मध्येन वपुषा निसर्गाष्टापदप्रभा । रुक्मवेदीव ददृशे कामेन रमणी हि सा

Transliteration

madhyena vapuṣā nisargāṣṭāpadaprabhā | rukmavedīva dadṛśe kāmena ramaṇī hi sā

Translation

باریک کمر اور فطری طور پر خالص سونے جیسی جسمانی تابانی والی وہ حسینہ، کام دیو کے اثر سے گویا سونے کی ویدی (قربان گاہ) کی مانند دکھائی دی۔

Word by Word

• मध्येन: by/with the waist (middle)
• मध्येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; ‘मध्य’ = middle/waist; करणत्वेन

• वपुषा: with (her) body/form
• वपुषा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; ‘body/form’

• निसर्ग-अष्टापद-प्रभा: having natural gold-like radiance
• निसर्ग-अष्टापद-प्रभा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निसर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टापद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः; ‘निसर्गेण (स्वभावतः) अष्टापदस्य (स्वर्णस्य) प्रभा यस्याः/या’ = naturally having gold-like radiance

• रुक्म-वेदी: a golden altar
• रुक्म-वेदी: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वेदी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘रुक्मस्य वेदी’ = golden altar/platform

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha/Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• ददृशे: appeared/was seen
• ददृशे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘appeared/was seen’

• कामेन: by Kāma (Cupid)
• कामेन: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental, 3rd), एकवचन; कर्तृ-करणभावे ‘by Kāma (Cupid)’

• रमणी: the beautiful woman
• रमणी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रमणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; ‘beautiful woman’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative, 1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Satī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Kama
• Sati

FAQs

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

The verse poetically depicts the captivating power of Kāma (desire) as a force that makes embodied beauty appear irresistible; in a Shaiva Siddhanta reading, it highlights how worldly attraction can bind the pashu (individual soul) unless redirected into devotion toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By contrasting sensory allure with sacred imagery (a “golden altar”), the verse subtly points from worldly beauty to worshipful sanctity—encouraging the devotee to transform desire into reverence, approaching Saguna Shiva through pure bhakti and ritual focus rather than mere fascination with form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to sublimate desire through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady dhyāna on Shiva’s auspicious form, supported by simple Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and restrained conduct (niyama).