Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 40

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

नियोज्य तान्निजे कृत्ये स्थानं दत्त्वा च नाम च । मामाज्ञापय देवेश कृपां कृत्वा यथोचिताम्

Transliteration

niyojya tānnije kṛtye sthānaṃ dattvā ca nāma ca | māmājñāpaya deveśa kṛpāṃ kṛtvā yathocitām

Translation

انہیں ان کے اپنے فرائض پر مقرر کرکے، مقام اور نام عطا کرکے، اے دیویش، مناسب کرم فرما کر مجھے بھی حکم دیجیے۔

Word by Word

• niyojya: having assigned
• niyojya: Kriyā (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √yuj (युज् धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), 'having appointed/assigned'

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• nije: in (your) own
• nije: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; qualifying 'kṛtye'

• kṛtye: in the duty/task
• kṛtye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• sthānam: a place/post
• sthānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• dattvā: having given
• dattvā: Kriyā (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dā (दा धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having given'

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• nāma: a name
• nāma: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: First person pronoun, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ājñāpaya: command/instruct
• ājñāpaya: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + √jñā (ज्ञा धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्/Imperative), Parasmaipada, 2nd Person, Singular; causative (णिच्) 'command/instruct'

• deva-īśa: O Lord of gods
• deva-īśa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Singular; तत्पुरुषः (lord of gods)

• kṛpām: compassion
• kṛpām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛpā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• kṛtvā: having shown/done
• kṛtvā: Kriyā (क्रिया/पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), 'having done/shown'

• yathā-ucitām: as appropriate
• yathā-ucitām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ucita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; अव्ययीभावः (as is proper) qualifying 'kṛpām'

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: delegation within creation: Brahmā seeks further command after assigning nāma–sthāna–karma

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights humility before Pati (Shiva): even after establishing order and duties, the devotee seeks Shiva’s direct command and appropriate grace (anugraha), showing that right action becomes fruitful only when aligned with Shiva’s will.

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

Addressing Shiva as Devesha reflects Saguna devotion—approaching the Lord as a personal guide and ruler. In Linga-worship, this attitude translates into surrender: one offers service and then seeks Shiva’s sanction and direction through prayer.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sankalpa and prayerful submission before worship—begin Linga-puja with reverence, repeat “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and inwardly ask Shiva to direct one’s duties and grant fitting compassion for dharmic living.