Shloka 23

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा नारीकुलं विप्रास् तथाभूतं च शङ्करम् अतीव परुषं वाक्यं जजल्पुस्ते मुनीश्वराः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā nārīkulaṃ viprās tathābhūtaṃ ca śaṅkaram atīva paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ jajalpuste munīśvarāḥ

Translation

दृष्ट्वा नारीकुलं विप्रास्तथाभूतं च शङ्करम्। अतीव परुषं वाक्यं जजल्पुस्ते मुनीश्वराः॥

Word by Word

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen

• नारीकुलम्: the multitude/community of women

• विप्राः: brahmins, learned priests

• तथाभूतम्: in such a state/just so

• च: and

• शङ्करम्: Śaṅkara (Śiva)

• अतीव: exceedingly

• परुषम्: harsh, severe, cutting

• वाक्यम्: speech, words

• जजल्पुः: spoke, uttered

• ते: they

• मुनीश्वराः: great sages, lordly seers

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode; reporting the sages’ reaction)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Shankara)
• Munis (sages)
• Vipras (brahmins)
• Women (nari-kula)

FAQs

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

It frames a key Purāṇic pattern: ritualistic pride judges Śiva by external signs, while true Linga-bhakti recognizes Pati (Śiva) as transcendent—beyond social appearances—calling the devotee toward inner purity and surrender.

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

Śiva is shown as ‘tathābhūta’—appearing in an unexpected state—provoking harsh judgment from sages; the episode highlights Shiva-tattva as beyond conventional categories, testing whether one perceives the Supreme Pati or only outer form.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Indirectly, it points to the Pāśupata emphasis on transcending egoic attachment to external purity and status; the spiritual takeaway is discernment (viveka) and inner renunciation rather than mere ritual correctness.