Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 23

कामभस्म-प्रार्थना: रत्याः शङ्करं प्रति विनयः / Rati’s Supplication to Śaṅkara regarding Kāma’s Ashes

Devanagari script

ईश्वर उवाच । हे कामाहं प्रसन्नोऽस्मि भयन्त्यज महामते । गच्छ विष्णुसमीपञ्च बहिस्थाने स्थितो भव

Transliteration

īśvara uvāca | he kāmāhaṃ prasanno'smi bhayantyaja mahāmate | gaccha viṣṇusamīpañca bahisthāne sthito bhava

Translation

自在天说道：“噢迦摩，我已悦纳于你；大心者啊，舍弃恐惧。你也去到毗湿奴近前，并在外处驻立。”

Word by Word

• ईश्वरः: Īśvara (Lord Śiva)
• ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हे: O!
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• काम: O Kāma (Cupid)
• काम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रसन्नः: pleased
• प्रसन्नः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (अहम्-विशेषण)

• अस्मि: am
• अस्मि: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• भयम्: fear
• भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• त्यज: abandon
• त्यज: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: त्यज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महामते: O great-minded one
• महामते: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा (Vocative), एकवचन; समासः—महान् + मतिः (कर्मधारय)

• गच्छ: go
• गच्छ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विष्णु-समीपम्: to Viṣṇu’s vicinity
• विष्णु-समीपम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक) + समीप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विष्णोः समीपम्)

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

• बहिः-स्थाने: in the outer place
• बहिः-स्थाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय) + स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभाव-समासः (बहिः + स्थानम्)

• स्थितः: standing / stationed
• स्थितः: Kartṛ-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (त्वं) इति अध्याहार्य

• भव: be
• भव: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Īśvara)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kama
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It shows Īśvara’s compassionate sovereignty: even forces like desire (Kāma) are not rejected outright but are disciplined and placed in their proper dharmic boundary by Shiva’s grace, removing fear and restoring right order.

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

As Saguna Īśvara, Shiva personally speaks, grants reassurance, and commands cosmic functions—highlighting the devotee’s trust in Shiva’s accessible, personal lordship often approached through Linga-worship and bhakti.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The key takeaway is fearlessness (abhaya) through surrender to Shiva: meditate on Shiva as the compassionate Lord and repeat the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” to steady the mind and keep desire within rightful limits.