Shloka 1.36.6

बालकाण्ड सर्ग ३६ — गङ्गा-प्रभवप्रश्नः, शिवतेजोधारणं, कार्त्तिकेय-जन्म, उमाशापः

Devanagari script

पुरा राम कृतोद्वाहो नीलकण्ठो महातपा:।दृष्ट्वा च स्पृहया देवीं मैथुनायोपचक्रमे।।।।

Transliteration

purā rāma kṛtodvāho nīlakaṇṭho mahā-tapāḥ |

dṛṣṭvā ca spṛhayā devīṃ maithunāyopacakrame ||

Translation

In former times, O Rāma, Nīlakaṇṭha—the great ascetic—having wedded the Goddess, gazed upon her with longing and began to seek conjugal union.

Context

"O Rama, in ancient times, great ascetic the blue-neck Lord Siva got married to goddess Uma charmed with her beauty he indulged in sexual enjoyment with intensepassion.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra
• Rāma
• Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva)
• Devī (Umā/Pārvatī)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

It frames the tension between tapas (discipline) and kāma (desire), a recurring ethical theme: dharma requires conscious governance of desire within rightful bounds.

What is the narrative situation?

Viśvāmitra introduces the ancient episode of Śiva’s marriage to Umā and the commencement of conjugal life, setting up the circumstances that lead to later events.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

The verse implicitly foregrounds self-mastery as the virtue needed when desire arises, especially for one characterized as mahā-tapāḥ.