Shloka 10
Ghuśmā–Sudehā: Jealousy, Household Honor, and the Ethics of Śaiva Merit (गुश्मा–सुदेहा प्रसङ्गः)
भर्त्ता प्रियां तां ज्येष्ठां च मेने नैव कनिष्ठिकाम् । तथापि सा तदा ज्येष्ठा स्वान्तर्मलवती ह्यभूत्
bharttā priyāṃ tāṃ jyeṣṭhāṃ ca mene naiva kaniṣṭhikām | tathāpi sā tadā jyeṣṭhā svāntarmalavatī hyabhūt
భర్త ఆమెను కనిష్ఠగా కాక జ్యేష్ఠ భార్యగా భావించాడు. అయినా ఆ సమయంలో ‘జ్యేష్ఠ’ అని పిలువబడినా ఆమె అంతరము మలినతతో కలుషితమైంది.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
It contrasts outer status (being treated as “elder” and favored) with inner condition: in Shaiva thought, true auspiciousness depends on purification of mala (inner impurity), not social designation or preference.
Linga-worship is repeatedly taught as a means of inner cleansing—approaching Saguna Shiva with devotion and discipline is meant to remove mala and steady the mind, so outer honor does not become a cause for pride or inner decline.
A practical takeaway is antahkaraṇa-śuddhi: daily Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with Tripuṇḍra-bhasma and sincere self-examination to reduce inner mala.