Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 25

काम-शक्र-संवादः / Dialogue of Kāma and Śakra

Indra

Devanagari script

सेनाधिपश्च शृंगारो हावभावाश्च सैनिकाः । सर्वे मे मृदवः शक्र अहं चापि तथाविधः

Transliteration

senādhipaśca śṛṃgāro hāvabhāvāśca sainikāḥ | sarve me mṛdavaḥ śakra ahaṃ cāpi tathāvidhaḥ

Translation

Vị thống soái của ta là Śṛṅgāra—quyền năng của ái tình và duyên mị; binh sĩ của ta là những cử chỉ và dáng điệu tình tứ. Tất cả đều dịu mềm, hỡi Śakra; và ta cũng mang bản tính nhu hòa ấy.

Word by Word

• सेनाधिपः: commander of the army
• सेनाधिपः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सेना + अधिप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• शृङ्गारः: erotic charm/ornamentation
• शृङ्गारः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शृङ्गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• हावभावाः: gestures and expressions
• हावभावाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाव + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• सैनिकाः: soldiers
• सैनिकाः: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सैनिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; agreeing with implied ‘(they)’

• मे: my/of me
• मे: सम्बन्ध (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; enclitic genitive

• मृदवः: gentle/soft
• मृदवः: प्रत्यय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• शक्र: O Shakra (Indra)
• शक्र: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; Vocative singular

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: कर्ता (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/समुच्चयार्थक (particle: also/even)

• तथाविधः: of that kind/such
• तथाविधः: प्रत्यय (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तथा + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

Speaker

Kāma (Manmatha), addressing Indra (Śakra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Kama (Manmatha)

FAQs

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

It portrays desire (kāma) as subtle and ‘gentle’—working through attraction, gestures, and emotion—yet, in Shaiva understanding, such forces cannot ultimately bind the soul when it turns toward Śiva as Pati, the liberator beyond passion.

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

Linga/Saguna-Śiva worship centers the mind on the Lord who is untouched by sensory agitation; by fixing awareness on Śiva through pūjā and japa, the devotee weakens the inner ‘army’ of desire described here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with disciplined meditation and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma remembrance, redirecting the mind from hāva-bhāva (restless expressions) to Śiva-bhāva (Shiva-centered awareness).