Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 44
कामशापानुग्रहः (Kāmaśāpānugraha) — “The Curse and Grace Concerning Kāma”
कथं कामोपि मंदात्मा प्राबल्यात्सोधुनैव हि । विकृतान्बाणैः कृतवानकालज्ञोल्पचेतनः
kathaṃ kāmopi maṃdātmā prābalyātsodhunaiva hi | vikṛtānbāṇaiḥ kṛtavānakālajñolpacetanaḥ
究竟为何伽摩虽心智昏钝，却被强势与傲慢驱使，竟在此刻以扭曲之箭妄动，既不识时机，见识又浅薄？
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it personifies kāma as a binding power whose ‘distorted arrows’ disrupt propriety—an emblem of pāśa operating under concealment (tirodhāna) until checked by Śiva’s supremacy.
Significance: Moral-theological lesson: recognize kāma as a force that deranges discernment (akālajña); encourages turning to Śiva for mastery over desire.
FAQs
The verse critiques Kāma as “akalajña” and “alpacetana,” indicating that desire, when impulsive and arrogant, becomes a binding force (pāśa) that disrupts dharma; Shaiva Siddhanta emphasizes mastering such impulses through Shiva-bhakti and grace.
In the Sati narrative, desire attempts to disturb Shiva’s ascetic absorption; worship of Saguna Shiva in the Liṅga form centers the mind in the Lord, transforming restless kāma into devotion and steadiness.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with restraint of the senses, supported by simple Shaiva observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and mindful meditation to overcome impulsive desire.