Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

वसन्त-प्रभावः तथा काम-उद्दीपन-वर्णनम् | Spring’s Influence and the Arousal of Kāma

Devanagari script

एवं चकार स मधुस्स्वप्रभावं सुदुस्सहम् । सर्वेषा चैव जीवानां कामोद्दीपनकारकः

Transliteration

evaṃ cakāra sa madhussvaprabhāvaṃ sudussaham | sarveṣā caiva jīvānāṃ kāmoddīpanakārakaḥ

Translation

Vì thế, Madhu nhờ năng lực bẩm sinh của chính mình trở nên vô cùng khó cưỡng, và quả thật là nguyên nhân làm bùng cháy dục vọng nơi mọi loài hữu tình.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय/adverb

• चकार: did/made
• चकार: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; pronoun

• मधुः: spring/nectar (here: spring season)
• मधुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्वप्रभावम्: its own power
• स्वप्रभावम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; समास: स्वः प्रभावः (its own power)

• सुदुस्सहम्: very hard to endure
• सुदुस्सहम्: Karma-visheshana (कर्म-विशेषण/Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + दुस्सह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adjective qualifying ‘स्वप्रभावम्’; सु- intensifier

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (generic), षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय/conjunction

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/particle (emphasis)

• जीवानाम्: of living beings
• जीवानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• कामोद्दीपनकारकः: a kindler of desire
• कामोद्दीपनकारकः: Vidhaya-visheshana (विधेय-विशेषण/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम + उद्दीपन + कारक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: कामस्य उद्दीपनं करोति इति (causing the kindling of desire)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Madhu

FAQs

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

The verse highlights how a powerful influence can ignite kāma (desire) in all beings—pointing to desire as a binding force (pāśa) that agitates the mind and turns the soul (paśu) away from steady remembrance of Shiva (Pati).

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

When desire becomes “irresistible,” the mind scatters; Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva gather the mind back into one-pointedness, converting passion into bhakti and directing energy toward Shiva rather than sensory compulsion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with disciplined sense-restraint; applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady breath-awareness supports mastery over desire’s agitation.