Shiva Tandava Stotram — Verse 13

Sanskrit

Transliteration

kadā nilimpa nirjharī nikuñja koṭare vasan vimukta durmatiḥ sadā śiraḥ stha mañjaliṁ vahan vimukta lola locano lalāma bhālalagnakaḥ śiveti mantram uccaran kadā sukhī bhavāmyaham

Word Meanings

kadā—when; nilimpa—divine; nirjharī—river (Ganga); nikuñja—bower/grove; koṭare—in the hollow; vasan—dwelling; vimukta—freed; durmatiḥ—evil thoughts; sadā—always; śiraḥ—head; stha—placed; mañjalim—joined palms; vahan—carrying; vimukta—freed; lola—restless/wandering; locanaḥ—eyes; lalāma—mark on forehead; bhāla—forehead; lagnakaḥ—attached to; śiva—Shiva; iti—thus; mantram—mantra; uccaran—uttering; kadā—when; sukhī—happy; bhavāmi—I become; aham—I.

Translation

When shall I become happy — dwelling in the bower beside the divine Ganga, freed from evil thoughts, ever holding joined palms on my head, with eyes freed from restlessness, devoted to the mark on Shiva's forehead, uttering the mantra 'Shiva'?

Commentary

The final verses of the Tandava Stotram shift from cosmic praise to intensely personal longing for liberation. Ravana — the most powerful king of his age — ends not with triumph but with yearning: 'When shall I be free?' The mark on Shiva's forehead (the sacred ash, vibhuti, or tilaka) becomes the object of meditation. This is the essence of bhakti: even cosmic power is worthless without the peace of the Divine.