Shloka 56

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

भर्त्रा न्यमीलयन्नेत्रे चचाल च पतिव्रता किंचेत्याह पुनस्तं वै धर्मे चक्रे च सा मतिम्

Transliteration

bhartrā nyamīlayannetre cacāla ca pativratā kiṃcetyāha punastaṃ vai dharme cakre ca sā matim

Translation

భర్త ఆజ్ఞతో ఆ పతివ్రత కన్నులు మూసుకొని కదలసాగెను. తరువాత ఆమె మళ్లీ— “ఇది ఏమిటి?” అని అడిగెను; అయినా ధర్మములోను సదాచారములోను తన నిర్ణయాన్ని స్థిరపరచెను.

Word by Word

• भर्त्रा: by the husband

• न्यमीलयन्: (she) closing

• नेत्रे: the eyes

• चचाल: moved/started to proceed

• च: and

• पतिव्रता: a wife vowed to her husband (devoted, chaste)

• किम्: what

• चेत्: indeed/then

• आह: said

• पुनः: again

• तम्: to him

• वै: indeed

• धर्मे: in dharma/righteousness

• चक्रे: made/fixed

• च: and

• सा: she

• मतिम्: intention, resolve, mind

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Pativrata (devoted wife)
• Husband (unnamed)

FAQs

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

It highlights that ritual action must be grounded in dharma and inner resolve (mati); such ethical steadiness purifies the pashu (individual soul) and makes Shiva-puja fruitful rather than merely external.

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

Indirectly, it points to Shiva as Pati (the Lord) approached through dharmic alignment: when the pashu steadies the mind in dharma, pasha (bondage) begins to loosen, enabling receptivity to Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A discipline of obedience and sense-restraint—symbolized by closing the eyes—paired with unwavering dharmic intention; this mirrors Pashupata-style inner control where right conduct supports meditation and worship.