Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 54

कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”

Devanagari script

मरीचिप्रमुखा षड् वै निगृहीतेन्द्रियक्रियाः । ऋते क्रतुं वसिष्ठं च पुलस्त्यांगिरसौ तथा

Transliteration

marīcipramukhā ṣaḍ vai nigṛhītendriyakriyāḥ | ṛte kratuṃ vasiṣṭhaṃ ca pulastyāṃgirasau tathā

Translation

Quả thật, sáu vị hiền triết đứng đầu là Marīci đã chế ngự mọi hoạt động của các căn. Pulastya và Aṅgiras cũng như vậy—chỉ trừ Kratu và Vasiṣṭha.

Word by Word

• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: (the sages) headed by Marīci
• मरीचि-प्रमुखाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरीचि (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रमुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“मरीचिः प्रमुखः येषाम्” (group headed by Marīci)

• षट्: six
• षट्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्/षट् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्यावाचक, प्रथमा, बहुवचनार्थे; अव्ययवत् रूपम् (numeral: “six”)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• निगृहीत-इन्द्रिय-क्रियाः: having restrained the activities of the senses
• निगृहीत-इन्द्रिय-क्रियाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—“निगृहीता इन्द्रियक्रिया येषाम्” (whose sense-activities are restrained)

• ऋते: except
• ऋते: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऋते (अव्यय)
• Form: वर्जनार्थक-अव्यय; पञ्चमी/द्वितीयासमानार्थक-प्रयोगः (except/without; governs accusative here)

• क्रतुम्: Kratu
• क्रतुम्: Apādāna (अपादान/exception-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• वसिष्ठम्: Vasiṣṭha
• वसिष्ठम्: Apādāna (अपादान/exception-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• पुलस्त्य-आङ्गिरसौ: Pulastya and Āṅgirasa
• पुलस्त्य-आङ्गिरसौ: Apādāna (अपादान/exception-object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुलस्त्य (प्रातिपदिक) + आङ्गिरस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (copulative: Pulastya and Āṅgirasa)

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तुल्य/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (adverb/particle: “also/likewise”)

Speaker

Sūta Goswāmī

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Marīci
• Kratu
• Vasiṣṭha
• Pulastya
• Aṅgiras

FAQs

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

It highlights indriya-nigraha (restraint of the senses) as a foundational discipline that purifies the seeker, making the mind fit for Shiva-bhakti and for receiving Shiva’s grace (anugraha) that leads toward moksha.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is presented as most fruitful when supported by inner purity; controlling the senses steadies attention so the devotee can worship Saguna Shiva with one-pointedness, allowing the Linga to become a doorway to realizing Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is disciplined sense-restraint alongside regular japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and vrata-like self-control—practices often paired with Shiva worship (such as calm meditation, purity, and simple living).