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Shloka 206

Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ

Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers

ललाटप्रभवेणाक्ष्णा रोहिणीं प्रदहन्निव । एक दिन भगवान्‌ शंकर पृथ्वीपर खड़े थे। उसी समय सुरभिके एक बछड़ेके मुँहसे फेन निकलकर उनके मस्तकपर गिर पड़ा। इससे वे कुपित हो उठे और अपने ललाटजनित नेत्रसे

lalāṭaprabhaveṇākṣṇā rohiṇīṃ pradahann iva | ekaṃ dinaṃ bhagavān śaṅkaraḥ pṛthivyāṃ khagaḍe tiṣṭhan āsīt | tasminn eva kāle surabheḥ ekasya vatsasya mukhāt phenaḥ niṣkramya tasya mastake papāta | tena sa kupito ’bhavat, sva-lalāṭa-janitena netreṇa rohiṇīṃ pradahann iva tām avalokitum ārabdhaḥ |

ビーシュマは言った。「額より生じた眼で、まるでローヒニーを灰に焼き尽くさんばかりに、福徳の主シャンカラ(Śaṅkara)はかつて地上に立っておられた。そのとき、スラビーの子牛の口から泡があふれ出て、主の頭上に落ちた。これにより主は憤り、額生の眼をもって彼女を凝視し、火で焼き尽くすかのようであった。」

ललाट-प्रभवेणby/with the forehead-born (eye)
ललाट-प्रभवेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootललाटप्रभव
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
अक्ष्णाwith the eye
अक्ष्णा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootअक्षि
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
रोहिणीम्Rohiṇī (name/proper noun)
रोहिणीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरोहिणी
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
प्रदहन्burning, scorching
प्रदहन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-दह्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular, Present active participle (śatṛ)
इवas if, like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Ś
Śaṅkara (Śiva)
S
Surabhi
S
Surabhi’s calf (vatsa)
R
Rohiṇī
F
forehead-born eye (third eye)
F
foam (phena)
E
earth (pṛthivī)

Educational Q&A

The episode functions as a cautionary exemplum about the destructive potential of anger and the ethical necessity of restraint, especially when one possesses great power; even a seemingly small provocation can lead to disproportionate harm if not governed by dharma.

Śiva is standing on earth when foam from Surabhi’s calf falls on his head; he becomes angry and looks toward Rohiṇī with his forehead-born eye as if he would burn her, setting up a moralized account of divine wrath and its consequences.