Shloka 17
Vaiśyanātha-avatāra-kathā
The Account of Śiva’s Manifestation as Vaiśyanātha
तत्प्रकोष्ठे वरं वीक्ष्य कंकणं सुमनोहरम् । तस्मिञ्जातस्पृहा सा च तं प्रोवाच सुविस्मिता
tatprakoṣṭhe varaṃ vīkṣya kaṃkaṇaṃ sumanoharam | tasmiñjātaspṛhā sā ca taṃ provāca suvismitā
Thấy nơi cổ tay chàng chiếc vòng tuyệt mỹ, quyến rũ lạ thường, nàng liền khởi lòng ham muốn; rồi trong niềm kinh ngạc hoan hỷ, nàng cất lời với chàng.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
FAQs
The verse highlights how desire (spṛhā) arises through sense-perception; in Shaiva thought, such impulses are to be understood and purified so the mind turns from attraction to objects toward devotion to Pati (Shiva).
By portraying human emotion within the Purana’s leela, it prepares the devotee to redirect fascination with worldly beauty toward Saguna Shiva’s auspicious forms and symbols, which then mature into steadier devotion.
A practical takeaway is sense-restraint with mantra-japa—especially the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—to steady the mind when desire is triggered by what is seen.