अराला केशेषु प्रकृतिसरला मन्दहसिते
शिरीषाभा चित्ते दृषदुपलशोभा कुचतटे।
भृशं तन्वी मध्ये पृथुरुरसिजारोहविषये
जगत्त्रातुं शम्भोर्जयति करुणा काचिदरुणा॥
arālā keśeṣu prakṛtisaralā mandahasite
śirīṣābhā citte dṛṣadupalaśobhā kucataṭe |
bhṛśaṁ tanvī madhye pṛthururasijārohaviṣaye
jagattrātuṁ śambhorjayati karuṇā kācidaruṇā ||
arālā keśeṣu – curly hair; prakṛti saralā – naturally beautiful; manda hasite – with smile; śirīṣābhā cite – mind like the flowers of fever tree; dṛṣat upala śobhā kuca taṭe – bosoms as hard as grinding stone (mash stone); bhṛśaṁ tanvī madhye – extremely slender waist; pṛthurḥ urasija āroha viṣaye – broad and expansive bosoms and derriere; jagat trātuṁ - to sustain the universe; śambhoḥ jayati karuṇā – the supreme compassion of Śiva; kācit aruṇā – indescribable redness.
“O! Parāśakti! You have naturally beautiful and curly hair and natural mile. Your mind is like the flowers fever tree. Your hard bosoms are broad and expansive and so is Your derriere, whose complexion are in describable redness They are due to the supreme compassion of Śiva to sustain this universe.”
As we are moving towards end of Soundarya laharī, emphasis is given to Śiva in this verse. This verse also goes to prove that Śiva is Supreme. He is Prakāśa, the Self-illuminating Light of the universe and His Light is made realizable by His Power known as Śakti, who is known as Vimarśa, the svabhāva of Śiva. Svabhāva can be explained in two ways. Contextually it means the inherent nature of Śiva. That is why, Lalitā Sahasranāma (53) adores Her as Śiva which is explained thus:
“There is no difference between Śiva and Śaktī; hence she is called as Śiva. Śiva also means auspiciousness. She is the embodiment of auspiciousness. She is the icchā form of Śiva. There are three types of śakti-s – icchā (desire), jñāna (knowledge) and kriyā (action). Since Śiva is the Brahman and as such He does not have any desires. But His icchā form is reflected in the form Lalitai. Here desire means desire to self-realization. “Yatā Shivā –tatā Devi; Yatā Devi- tatā Shivā” is the saying. Wherever Śiva is, there will be Śaktī and wherever Śaktī is, there will be Śiva. That is why it is said there is no difference between Śiva and Śaktī. Elsewhere it is said that Pārvatī and Parameśvara cannot be separated from each other. This is compared to a word, which cannot be separated from its meaning. They are considered as father and mother of the universe. Scriptures say that there is no difference between Umā (Śaktī) and Śankarā (Śiva). Śankarī is the consort of Śiva and is known as Śiva - Śankarī. There are two important points mentioned here. One is that, Lalitai is in no way different from Śiva. Both Śiva and Śaktī are in a single form only. Only out of ignorance, we worship them as two separate individuals. Secondly, assuming that we continue to worship Her individual form that has been described in the previous verses, still we get all auspicious things.”
Lalitā Sahasranāma 999 Śiva-śakty-aikya-rūpiṇī talks about their unified existence.
The alternate explanation of svabhāva is about the doctrine that the universe was produced and is sustained by the natural and necessary action of substances according to their inherent properties. In other words, this could mean Prakṛti, the original source of creation. She is only the source and not the cause of creation. Cause of creation is Śiva. Hence, this verse praises Him and says that Śiva has created the universe through Her out of compassion for the beings. Hence is She is worshiped as Divine Mother or Supreme Mother. When we contemplate Her in a placid mind, She will certainly manifest.
The description of Her body parts conveys Śiva’s compassion and Her motherly qualities. The last line of the verse conveys the nature of Śiva’s compassion. Compassion is always described as red. This is explained in the second dhyāna verse of Lalitā Sahasranāma, which says, “aruṇāṃkaruṇā-taraṃgitākṣīṃ” (aruṇām – like rising sun, the colour of the sun at dawn which is red; karuṇa – compassion; tarangitākṣīm – waves from Her eyes; Waves of compassion emanating from Her eyes, like waves continuously.”
AJ
January 14, 2018 08:08 PM
Does the 93rd sloka help fulfill desires? Is that what the “Aruna Shakti” does? Can it help fulfill desires?
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Replies
MANBLUNDER
January 14, 2018 08:33 PM
In fact, by merely thinking about HER will fulfill our genuine desires. In this verse, She is described as an embodiment of (Supreme compassion of Lord Shiva) compassion and Grace, it is said that by chanting this verse, results in fulfillment of our desires.
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AJ
March 30, 2020 08:02 AM
How exactly does merely THINKING about her fulfill desires? I’ve read about mantras and the vibrations due to the sound and stuff like that. How exactly does meditating on her image do this too? What does “thinking” about her tap into? Thank you
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Krishna
May 14, 2020 10:09 PM
"Thinking" here means deep contemplation for most of us. For those who are completely dissolved in Her devotion, mere thought can reap in the benefits of fulfilling desires. One must note that even thoughts can generate vibrations. In fact it is these subtle vibrations coming from silent mantra japa, that are most effective in reaching out to the Divine.
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AJ
May 15, 2020 02:21 AM
What do you mean by silent mantra japa? Chanting done very silently (like whispering), or chanting done in the head? Is chanting Soundarya Lahari slokas in the head more powerful than chanting them silently with sound?
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Krishna
May 15, 2020 09:33 AM
Chanting done in the mind, like thoughts. For śloka-s, the preferred method is outward recitation. But if treated as mantras, then mental recitation is preferred.
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AJ
May 15, 2020 05:30 PM
Ok, one last question. is it ok to chant more than one sloka at a time, or does one need to stick with one for a certain period of time? Do the energies of one sloka interfere with the energy of another, and the energy of the slokas take LONGER to have effect? Thank you
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Krishna
May 16, 2020 08:24 AM
It all depends on what you are seeking. You can recite all the śloka-s from 1 to 100 on a daily basis or you may choose any particular śloka(s) and recite as much as you can.
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AJ
May 18, 2020 12:53 AM
Two questions: 1. Can these Slokas be chanted anywhere mentally? Like in a car, or in public, etc? Or does it have to be in sort of a meditative and quiet environment? 2. What does one have to be thinking of when chanting a sloka? For example, let's say one desires to get hired for a job and chant specific slokas for that. Do they need to think about having that job already? Basically, imagining the desired outcome while chanting? Or maybe just think of Devi while chanting is good enough? Thank you
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Krishna
May 19, 2020 07:52 AM
If you are reciting purely for the love of poetry, please do so at any place that is convenient for you. If you are planning to recite them as part of mantra japa, then it is important to seek guidance from a practicing guru who can assist you with this and provide detailed information on how to perform the japa with all the procedures. It is generally suggested to focus on the dhyāna śloka for mantra japa. In this particular case, you may focus on the meaning of the respective śloka that you are reciting.
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AJ
May 22, 2020 03:55 AM
I’m sure you are aware that almost every Soundarya Lahari text states each Sloka needs to be chanted 1000 (or sometimes 2000 or even 4000) times a day for a certain amount of days. Is this accurate? What is a good amount of repetitions to chant per day? Thank you.
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Krishna
May 22, 2020 08:34 PM
Please follow the prescribed number of chants per day as mentioned in the book and proceed. It is very time consuming to recite a thousand counts of any śloka. Wishing you the very best in your sādhana. Do it to the best of your ability and DO NOT have any expectations or desires from the japa. Surrender to Devi and may She bless you as She wills.
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