Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 38
कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility
अनंगस्तावदेव स्यात्कामो रतिपतिः प्रभुः । यावच्चावतरेत्कृष्णो धरण्यां रुक्मिणीपतिः
anaṃgastāvadeva syātkāmo ratipatiḥ prabhuḥ | yāvaccāvataretkṛṣṇo dharaṇyāṃ rukmiṇīpatiḥ
Kāma—đấng Vô Thân (Ananga), chúa tể của Rati—sẽ còn tiếp tục hùng mạnh, cho đến khi Kṛṣṇa, phu quân của Rukmiṇī, giáng sinh xuống cõi đất này.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shakti Form: Rati
Role: nurturing
Cosmic Event: avatāra (Kṛṣṇa’s descent)
FAQs
The verse highlights that desire (Kāma), though rendered “bodiless” by Shiva’s power, can still operate as a subtle force in beings until a higher divine descent and grace reorient the mind from sense-impulse toward dharma and devotion.
It reflects Shiva’s supremacy over kāma: worship of Saguna Shiva (including the Linga) is presented as a means to purify desire, transforming it from binding passion into disciplined devotion that supports spiritual liberation.
A practical takeaway is to restrain and refine desire through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steady meditation, and traditional Shaiva disciplines such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for inner control.