Shloka 9

दारुवनलीला—नीललोहितपरीक्षा, ब्रह्मोपदेशः, अतिथिधर्मः, संन्यासक्रमः

Devanagari script

विकृतं रूपमास्थाय दिग्वासा विषमेक्षणः मुग्धो द्विहस्तः कृष्णाङ्गो दिव्यं दारुवनं ययौ

Transliteration

vikṛtaṃ rūpamāsthāya digvāsā viṣamekṣaṇaḥ mugdho dvihastaḥ kṛṣṇāṅgo divyaṃ dāruvanaṃ yayau

Translation

Si Panginoong Śiva, na nag-anyong kakaiba at nakapanghihilakbot—hubad na tila langit ang kasuotan, may pambihirang titig—wari’y inosente ngunit nalilito, dalawang kamay at maitim ang mga sangkap, ay nagtungo sa maningning na gubat ng Daruvana upang wasakin ang gapos ng pagmamataas at pagkakapit sa panlabas na ritwal ng mga rishi, at ihayag ang kataas-taasang Pati na lampas sa mga gawaing panlabas.

Word by Word

• विकृतं (vikṛtaṃ): altered/strange

• रूपम् (rūpam): form

• आस्थाय (āsthāya): having assumed/taken on

• दिग्वासा (digvāsā): sky-clad, nude

• विषमेक्षणः (viṣamekṣaṇaḥ): with uneven/uncanny gaze

• मुग्धः (mugdhaḥ): bewildered/innocent-seeming

• द्विहस्तः (dvihastaḥ): two-handed

• कृष्णाङ्गः (kṛṣṇāṅgaḥ): dark-bodied

• दिव्यम् (divyam): divine/radiant

• दारुवनम् (dāruvanam): the Daru forest (forest of deodars)

• ययौ (yayau): went.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Daruvana sages

FAQs

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

It introduces Shiva’s deliberate disguise in Daruvana, a narrative that critiques mere external Vedic ritual pride and prepares the ground for recognizing the Linga as the transcendent sign of Pati—worshipped not only by rites but by inner surrender and right knowledge.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as sovereign and free (svatantra): he can assume any form to liberate pashus from pasha. The “strange form” signals that the Lord is not confined to social norms or ritual categories—he acts to shatter ego and reveal the higher truth.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the Pashupata emphasis on breaking attachment to outer identity and ritual pride; Shiva’s ‘testing’ points toward inner purification, humility, and recognition of Pati as the true agent behind all sacrificial acts.