Shloka 16

Devanagari script

कामेन स्वसहायेन प्रबलेन मनोभुवा । सर्वः प्रधर्षितो वीरो विष्ण्वादिः प्रबलोऽपि हि

Transliteration

kāmena svasahāyena prabalena manobhuvā | sarvaḥ pradharṣito vīro viṣṇvādiḥ prabalo'pi hi

Translation

Bởi Kāma—được trợ lực bởi đồng minh hùng mạnh của chính mình, kẻ sinh từ tâm—mọi bậc anh hùng đều bị khuất phục; quả thật, ngay cả những đấng hùng cường bắt đầu từ Viṣṇu, tuy mạnh, cũng bị chế ngự.

Word by Word

• कामेन: by Kāma (Cupid)
• कामेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन

• स्वसहायेन: with his own helper
• स्वसहायेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + सहाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य सहायः = one’s own helper)

• प्रबलेन: strong
• प्रबलेन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; here qualifying ‘सहायेन’

• मनोभुवा: by Manobhū (mind-born Kāma)
• मनोभुवा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् + भू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मनसः भूः = mind-born; epithet of Kāma)

• सर्वः: everyone
• सर्वः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; used substantively ‘everyone’

• प्रधर्षितः: overpowered / assailed
• प्रधर्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-√धृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वीरः: hero; brave one
• वीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; apposition to ‘सर्वः’ (or exemplar)

• विष्ण्वादिः: Vishnu and others
• विष्ण्वादिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (विष्णुः आदिः यस्य/यत्र = beginning with Vishnu)

• प्रबलः: strong
• प्रबलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रबल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/अपि-कार (even/also)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (हेतु/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (indeed/for)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Kama (Manobhava)

FAQs

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

The verse highlights kāma (desire) as a powerful pasha (bond) that can subdue even exalted beings; in Shaiva Siddhanta, liberation requires turning the mind away from such impulses and fixing it on Pati (Śiva), the only true conqueror of bondage.

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

It implies that worldly desire can overwhelm even the strongest, so one takes refuge in Saguna Śiva—worshiping the Liṅga with devotion and discipline—to purify the mind and redirect desire into bhakti, leading toward Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with steady breath and mind-restraint; supporting practices like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa dhāraṇa are traditionally used to reinforce vairāgya and focused worship.