Shloka 70

Devanagari script

बलाबला च विप्रेन्द्रा या च गोपाबला स्मृता तथा तामरसा चैव वरक्रीडा च वै दश

Transliteration

balābalā ca viprendrā yā ca gopābalā smṛtā tathā tāmarasā caiva varakrīḍā ca vai daśa

Translation

(ഇവർ) ബലാബലാ, വിപ്രേന്ദ്രാ, ഗോപാബലാ എന്നു സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവൾ; അതുപോലെ താമരസാ, വരക്രീഡാ—ഇങ്ങനെ നിശ്ചയമായി (ഈ കൂട്ടത്തിൽ) പത്ത് നാമങ്ങൾ.

Word by Word

• बलाबला: Balābalā (a proper name/epithet)

• च: and

• विप्रेन्द्रा: Viprendrā (chief among Brahmin-like/divine feminine epithet

• या: who

• च: and

• गोपाबला: Gopābalā (the ‘cowherd-maiden’/protector-of-cows feminine epithet

• स्मृता: remembered/known as

• तथा: likewise

• तामरसा: Tāmarasā (lotus-associated feminine epithet

• च: and

• एव: indeed

• वरक्रीडा: Varakrīḍā (she whose play is auspicious/excellent

• च: and

• वै: indeed

• दश: ten

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s enumerations to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It functions as a precise segment of a sacred name-enumeration: reciting such epithets as part of Linga-puja supports nama-japa and smarana, strengthening devotion to Pati (Shiva) through Shakti-associated designations.

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

Indirectly, by listing Shakti-linked names, it points to Shiva-tattva as inseparable from Shakti—Pati is approached through the manifold powers and auspicious modes by which the One is praised and remembered.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-parayana (disciplined recitation of divine names) as an aid to purification of the pashu (bound soul) and a supportive limb of Shaiva worship alongside Linga-archana.