Shloka 12

Devanagari script

वने तं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा विकृतं नीललोहितम् स्त्रियः पतिव्रताश्चापि तमेवान्वयुरादरात्

Transliteration

vane taṃ puruṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā vikṛtaṃ nīlalohitam striyaḥ pativratāścāpi tamevānvayurādarāt

Translation

Im Wald, als sie jenen außergewöhnlichen Mann erblickten—Nīlalohita von ehrfurchtgebietender Gestalt—folgten die Frauen, selbst die treuen, keuschen Ehefrauen, ihm allein mit ehrerbietigem Eifer.

Word by Word

• वने (vane): in the forest

• तम् (tam): that (him)

• पुरुषम् (puruṣam): Person/Being

• दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā): having seen

• विकृतम् (vikṛtam): wondrous/uncanny/extraordinary in appearance

• नीललोहितम् (nīlalohitam): Nīlalohita (the blue-and-red-hued form of Śiva)

• स्त्रियः (striyaḥ): women

• पतिव्रताः (pativratāḥ): devoted to their husbands (faithful wives)

• च अपि (ca api): and also

• तम् एव (tam eva): him alone

• अन्वयुः (anvayuḥ): followed/pursued

• आदरात् (ādarāt): with reverence/respect/eagerness.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Nīlalohita)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It highlights the magnetic authority of Śiva (Pati) as Nīlalohita—devotees are drawn toward him with ādara (reverence), a key inner disposition that supports Linga-pūjā as more than ritual: a movement of the pashu (soul) toward the Lord.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva-tattva is shown as transcendent yet personally manifest: an extraordinary, awe-inspiring form (vikṛta) that compels devotion. As Pati, he stands beyond ordinary social and mental limits, and his presence awakens spontaneous reverence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes bhakti-yukta anugamana—single-minded following of the Lord with reverence—which aligns with Pāśupata orientation: turning the pashu away from pasha (bondage) by fixing attention on Pati through darśana and devotion.