Shiva Tandava Stotram — Verse 7

Sanskrit

Transliteration

karālabhāla paṭṭikā dhagaddhagaddhagajjvala ddhanañjayāhutīkṛta pracaṇḍa pañcasāyake dharādharendra nandini kucāgra citra patrika prakalpanaika śilpini trilocanē ratirmama

Word Meanings

karāla—terrifying; bhāla—forehead; paṭṭikā—surface; dhagad—blazing sound; jvalat—blazing; dhanañjaya—fire; āhutī-kṛta—offered as oblation; pracaṇḍa—fierce; pañca-sāyake—to the five arrows (of Kama); dharā-dhara-indra—Himalaya; nandini—daughter (Parvati); kuca—breast; agra—top; citra—beautiful; patrikā—painted design; prakalpa—design/art; naika—unique; śilpini—artist; tri-lochane—three-eyed; ratir—delight; mama—mine.

Translation

My delight is in the three-eyed Shiva — who offered the five fierce arrows of Kama as oblation into the blazing fire on His terrible forehead — and who is the unique artist who painted the beautiful designs on the bosom of Parvati, daughter of the Himalayas.

Commentary

This verse celebrates both Shiva the destroyer and Shiva the loving consort. The juxtaposition is intentional: the same third eye that burns Kama to ash is also the consciousness that lovingly perceives and delights in Parvati's beauty. Destruction and love are not opposites in Shaivite philosophy — they are two expressions of the same absolute consciousness.