Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 37

कामप्रभावः (कामा॑स्य प्रभाववर्णनम्) — The Power of Kāma and the (Ineffective) Attempt to Delude Śiva

Devanagari script

मुनेऽथ मां समाभाष्य तान् दृष्ट्वा मदनो गणान् । उवाच वारयन् ब्रह्मन्गणानामग्रतः स्मरः

Transliteration

mune'tha māṃ samābhāṣya tān dṛṣṭvā madano gaṇān | uvāca vārayan brahmangaṇānāmagrataḥ smaraḥ

Translation

圣者啊，随后迦摩（思摩罗）先与我言语，又见那些伽那，便站在伽那之前开口劝止他们，婆罗门啊。

Word by Word

• mune: O sage
• mune: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th case), एकवचन

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रमसूचक (then)

• mām: me
• mām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• samābhāṣya: having addressed
• samābhāṣya: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-ā-√bhāṣ (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund): 'having addressed/spoken to'

• tān: those
• tān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dṛś (धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त: 'having seen'

• madanaḥ: Madana (Cupid)
• madanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: madana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• gaṇān: hosts/attendants
• gaṇān: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• vārayan: restraining
• vārayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vṛ (धातु) caus. (वारयति) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle, शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; णिच् (causative): 'restraining/warding off' (agreeing with 'smaraḥ/madanaḥ')

• brahman: O Brahman (O Brahmā)
• brahman: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन; (Vedic/epic vocative form)

• gaṇānām: of the hosts
• gaṇānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• agrataḥ: in front (of)
• agrataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: agrataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्थानवाचक (in front/presence)

• smaraḥ: Smara (Cupid)
• smaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: smara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'Smara' = Kāma

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages; addressing the listener as 'mune/brahman')

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Kama (Madana/Smara)
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It highlights how kāma (desire) must be restrained and made subordinate when approaching the sphere of Śiva—symbolized by the gaṇas—teaching that inner impulses should be disciplined in the presence of the Divine.

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

The gaṇas represent the protected, ordered domain of Saguna Śiva; the verse implies that one should approach Śiva’s worship with control of desire and reverence, rather than impulsiveness or agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mental restraint (saṃyama) before pūjā—steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and a calm, disciplined approach, as desire-driven restlessness is to be checked.