Shloka 41

Devanagari script

आह बालेन्दुतिलकः पूर्णेन्दुवदनां हसन् स्मृत्वाथ मेनया पत्न्या गिरेर्गां कथितां पुरा

Transliteration

āha bālendutilakaḥ pūrṇenduvadanāṃ hasan smṛtvātha menayā patnyā girergāṃ kathitāṃ purā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ നെറ്റിയിൽ അർദ്ധചന്ദ്രചിഹ്നം ധരിച്ച ഭഗവാൻ, പൂർണ്ണചന്ദ്രസമമായ മുഖമുള്ള ദേവിയെ നോക്കി പുഞ്ചിരിയോടെ പറഞ്ഞു— പർവതപത്നി മേന മുമ്പ് പറഞ്ഞ വാക്കുകൾ ഓർത്തുകൊണ്ട്।

Word by Word

• आह: said/spoke

• बालेंदुतिलकः: he whose forehead-mark is the young crescent moon (Śiva)

• पूर्णेन्दुवदनाम्: to/at her whose face is like the full moon (Pārvatī)

• हसन्: smiling

• स्मृत्वा: having remembered

• अथ: then

• मेनया: by Menā

• पत्न्या: by the wife

• गिरेः: of the mountain (Himālaya)

• गाम्: speech/statement/words

• कथिताम्: spoken/told

• पुरा: formerly/earlier

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating an internal scene where Shiva speaks to Parvati)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Mena
• Himalaya

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva’s teaching mood—gentle, smiling, and responsive to devotional context—showing that Linga-upāsanā is grounded in Pati’s grace and intimate instruction to the devotee (Pashu) through Shiva–Shakti dialogue.

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

Shiva is indicated as Pati: sovereign yet compassionate, marked by the crescent moon, speaking with calm joy. His remembrance and measured speech reflect conscious, benevolent governance rather than impulsive emotion—hallmarks of Shiva-tattva in Shaiva Siddhanta.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific rite is prescribed in this line; it functions as narrative setup for instruction. The takeaway is the Pāśupata principle that yogic discipline and worship proceed under the guidance of Pati’s upadeśa (authoritative teaching).