Shloka 12
अनरण्य-वंशवर्णनम् तथा पिप्पलादस्य कामोत्पत्तिः
Genealogy of King Anaraṇya and Pippalāda’s arousal of desire
एकदा पुष्पभद्रायां स्नातुं गच्छन्मुनीश्वरः । ददर्श पद्मां युवतीं पद्मामिव मनोरमाम्
ekadā puṣpabhadrāyāṃ snātuṃ gacchanmunīśvaraḥ | dadarśa padmāṃ yuvatīṃ padmāmiva manoramām
Pada suatu ketika, tatkala sang resi agung sedang pergi mandi di Puṣpabhadrā, baginda melihat gadis bernama Padmā—menawan bagaikan bunga teratai itu sendiri.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
The verse frames an auspicious encounter arising during a purificatory act (going to bathe), implying that outer purity and inner discipline can become the doorway for dharmic turning-points within Shiva’s larger providential order.
In Shaiva practice, bathing and cleanliness prepare the devotee for saguna worship—such as approaching the Shiva-linga with a steady mind—so the narrative’s emphasis on going to bathe echoes the preparatory samskāra before ritual devotion.
A simple takeaway is śauca (purity) before worship: bathe, maintain mental restraint, and then proceed to Shiva-upāsanā—optionally accompanied by japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”