Shloka 41
Brahmā Counsels the Demigods; Journey to Kailāsa; Śiva’s Tranquility and Brahmā’s Praise
तथापरे सिद्धगणा महर्षिभि- र्ये वै समन्तादनु नीललोहितम् । नमस्कृत: प्राह शशाङ्कशेखरं कृतप्रणामं प्रहसन्निवात्मभू: ॥ ४१ ॥
tathāpare siddha-gaṇā maharṣibhir ye vai samantād anu nīlalohitam namaskṛtaḥ prāha śaśāṅka-śekharaṁ kṛta-praṇāmaṁ prahasann ivātmabhūḥ
The siddhas and great sages seated around Nīlalohita—Nārada and others—also offered their obeisances to Brahmā. Thus honored, Brahmā, the self-born (Ātmabhū), smiled and began to speak to Śiva, who had already bowed.
Lord Brahmā was smiling because he knew that Lord Śiva is not only easily satisfied but easily irritated as well. He was afraid that Lord Śiva might be in an angry mood because he had lost his wife and had been insulted by Dakṣa. In order to conceal this fear, he smiled and addressed Lord Śiva as follows.
FAQs
Nīlalohita is a name of Lord Śiva; in this verse, Siddhas and great sages offer him obeisances as Brahmā prepares to address him.
In the aftermath of Dakṣa’s sacrifice being disrupted, Brahmā approaches Śiva respectfully to pacify him and restore harmony among the devas and sages.
It highlights devotional etiquette—offering respect to exalted personalities and resolving conflict through humility, calm speech, and reverence for saintly authority.