Shloka 206
Go-mahātmyam: Pavitrāṇāṃ Pavitraṃ
Cows and Ghee as Supreme Purifiers
ललाटप्रभवेणाक्ष्णा रोहिणीं प्रदहन्निव । एक दिन भगवान् शंकर पृथ्वीपर खड़े थे। उसी समय सुरभिके एक बछड़ेके मुँहसे फेन निकलकर उनके मस्तकपर गिर पड़ा। इससे वे कुपित हो उठे और अपने ललाटजनित नेत्रसे
lalāṭaprabhaveṇākṣṇā rohiṇīṃ pradahann iva | ekaṃ dinaṃ bhagavān śaṅkaraḥ pṛthivyāṃ khagaḍe tiṣṭhan āsīt | tasminn eva kāle surabheḥ ekasya vatsasya mukhāt phenaḥ niṣkramya tasya mastake papāta | tena sa kupito ’bhavat, sva-lalāṭa-janitena netreṇa rohiṇīṃ pradahann iva tām avalokitum ārabdhaḥ |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Sa matang sumisibol mula sa kaniyang noo, na wari’y susunugin si Rohiṇī hanggang maging abo, minsang tumindig sa ibabaw ng lupa ang Mapalad na Panginoong Śaṅkara. Sa sandaling iyon, may bumukal na bula mula sa bibig ng guya ni Surabhī at tumulo sa kaniyang ulo. Dahil dito’y nag-alab ang kaniyang poot, at tinitigan niya siya sa pamamagitan ng matang isinilang sa noo, na para bang lalamunin siya ng apoy.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The episode functions as a cautionary exemplum about the destructive potential of anger and the ethical necessity of restraint, especially when one possesses great power; even a seemingly small provocation can lead to disproportionate harm if not governed by dharma.
Śiva is standing on earth when foam from Surabhi’s calf falls on his head; he becomes angry and looks toward Rohiṇī with his forehead-born eye as if he would burn her, setting up a moralized account of divine wrath and its consequences.