Shloka 71

अध्याय ८२ — व्यपोहनस्तवः (पापव्यपोहन-स्तोत्रम्)

Devanagari script

उर्वशी मेनका चैव रंभा रतितिलोत्तमाः सुमुखी दुर्मुखी चैव कामुकी कामवर्धनी

Transliteration

urvaśī menakā caiva raṃbhā ratitilottamāḥ sumukhī durmukhī caiva kāmukī kāmavardhanī

Translation

Urvaśī and Menakā, and also Rambhā; Ratī and Tilottamā; likewise Sumukhī and Durmukhī; Kāmukī and Kāmavardhanī—these celestial apsarās are enumerated as part of the divine retinue within Śiva’s cosmic governance.

Word by Word

• उर्वशी (Urvaśī): celestial nymph

• मेनका (Menakā): celestial nymph

• च (ca): and

• एव (eva): indeed/also

• रंभा (Rambhā): celestial nymph

• रति (Ratī): goddess of desire, consort of Kāma

• तिलोत्तमा (Tilottamā): celestial nymph of exquisite beauty

• सुमुखी (Sumukhī): ‘fair-faced’ apsaras/name

• दुर्मुखी (Durmukhī): ‘ill-faced’/name of an apsaras

• कामुकी (Kāmukī): desirous/passionate, name

• कामवर्धनी (Kāmavardhanī): ‘increaser of desire’, name

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Urvaśī
• Menakā
• Rambhā
• Ratī
• Tilottamā
• Sumukhī
• Durmukhī
• Kāmukī
• Kāmavardhanī

FAQs

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

By listing famed apsaras and divine figures, the verse situates all alluring powers (kāma and beauty) within Śiva’s overarching order, reminding the worshipper that devotion to the Liṅga subordinates worldly fascination to Pati (the Lord).

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

It implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme regulator: even forces that bind the paśu through desire (kāma as pasha) are contained within His cosmic governance, affirming Śiva as Pati beyond attraction and aversion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: restraint and sublimation of kāma (desire) so that the paśu loosens pasha (bondage) and turns the mind toward Liṅga-dhyāna and Śiva-bhakti.