Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 8
कामप्रहारः — The Subduing of Kāma (Desire) / Kāma’s Assault and Its Futility
तं दृष्ट्वा तादृशं कामं गिरीशस्य परात्मनः । संजातः क्रोधसंमर्दस्तत्क्षणादपि नारद
taṃ dṛṣṭvā tādṛśaṃ kāmaṃ girīśasya parātmanaḥ | saṃjātaḥ krodhasaṃmardastatkṣaṇādapi nārada
Hỡi Nārada, vừa thấy Kāma như thế đối với Girīśa—Đức Śiva, Bậc Tối Thượng Ngã—ngay khoảnh khắc ấy, một cơn phẫn nộ dữ dội như nghiền nát liền bùng sinh.
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Type: rudram
Role: destructive
FAQs
The verse highlights Shiva as Parātman—beyond passion—yet manifesting a corrective divine response when desire (kāma) attempts to disturb yogic stillness; it teaches that liberation requires conquest of kama through Shiva’s grace and inner discipline.
Though Shiva is the formless Supreme Self, devotees approach him as Saguna Girīśa through Linga-worship; the narrative frames Shiva’s leela as a protection of dharma and yogic purity, which Linga worship symbolizes—steadfast, unmoving consciousness.
A key takeaway is sense-restraint with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady meditation on Shiva as inner witness; traditional Shaiva supports include Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to vairāgya and focus.