Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 7

कामविवाहवर्णनम् / Description of Kāma’s Marriage

Devanagari script

विवाह्य तां स्मरस्सोपि मुमोदातीव नारद । दक्षजां तनयां रम्यां मुनीनामपि मोहिनीम्

Transliteration

vivāhya tāṃ smarassopi mumodātīva nārada | dakṣajāṃ tanayāṃ ramyāṃ munīnāmapi mohinīm

Translation

Hỡi Nārada, ngay cả Smara (Kāma), sau khi tác thành hôn lễ cho nàng, cũng vui mừng khôn xiết—vì nàng là ái nữ tuyệt mỹ của Dakṣa, một thiếu nữ quyến rũ đến nỗi ngay cả các bậc hiền triết cũng có thể bị lay động bởi dung nhan ấy.

Word by Word

• vivāhya: having married
• vivāhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-vāh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), from धातु √वह् with उपसर्ग वि-; ‘having married’ (पूर्वकाले कृत्य)

• tām: her
• tām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• smaraḥ: Kāma (Cupid)
• smaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to smaraḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि = ‘also/even’

• mumoda: rejoiced
• mumoda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: mud (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; √मुद् ‘to rejoice’

• atīva: exceedingly
• atīva: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atīva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb)

• nārada: O Nārada
• nārada: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन

• dakṣajām: Dakṣa’s daughter
• dakṣajām: Karma (कर्म) (apposition to tām)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dakṣa-ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘दक्षस्य जा’ (born of Dakṣa)

• tanayām: daughter
• tanayām: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tanayā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ramyām: lovely
• ramyām: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• munīnām: of sages
• munīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• mohinīm: enchantress; deluder
• mohinīm: Karma (कर्म) (apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mohinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘one who deludes/enchants’

Speaker

Brahmā (narrating to Nārada)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Daksha
• Sati
• Smara (Kama)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights the power of worldly attraction (Smara/Kāma) even among ascetics, implying that true liberation in Shaiva thought comes by turning the mind from मोह (delusion) toward Pati (Śiva) through steady devotion and discernment.

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

By contrasting Kama’s sphere (sensory enchantment) with the divine marriage narrative, it points devotees toward Saguna Śiva—worshipped as Liṅga and as the Lord with attributes—as the refuge that purifies desire into devotion and leads beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to steady the mind when desire arises, supported by Shaiva disciplines like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as reminders of detachment and Śiva-bhakti.