Shiva Tandava Stotram — Verse 3

Sanskrit

Transliteration

dharādhareṁdranandini vilāsabandhubandhura sphuraddigantasantati pramodamānamānase kṛpākaṭākṣadhōraṇī niruddhadurdharāpadi kvacid digambare mano vinodametu vastuni

Word Meanings

dharā-dhara-indra—mountain king (Himalaya); nandini—daughter (Parvati); vilāsa—play; bandhu—companion; bandhura—graceful; sphurat—shining; diganta—horizon; santati—expanse; pramodamāna—delighted; mānase—in mind; kṛpā—grace; kaṭākṣa—sidelong glance; dhōraṇī—stream; niruddha—checked/removed; durdharā—terrible; āpadi—in calamities; kvacit—some; digambara—sky-clad (Shiva); manaḥ—mind; vinōdam—joy; etu—may obtain; vastuni—in the Reality.

Translation

May my mind find joy in that Reality — the sky-clad Shiva — whose mind is delighted by the sport of the daughter of the mountain-king Himalaya (Parvati), who shines throughout all directions, and whose stream of compassionate sidelong glances removes the most terrible calamities.

Commentary

The verse presents Shiva in his domestic bliss with Parvati alongside his cosmic transcendence. 'Digambara' (sky-clad) means Shiva's garment is the infinite sky itself — He transcends all covering, all limitation. His sidelong glance of grace (Kataksha) is the famous image of divine compassion that removes suffering not through effort but through mere attention.