Origin of the Epithet Nīlakaṇṭha (Śiva swallowing poison) - Verse 43
Brahmanda Purana (GRETIL / Wisdomlib) · 25 · Verse 43
Sanskrit Original
को हेतुः कारणं किं वा कण्ठे नीलस्त्त्वमीश्वर। एतत्सर्वं यथान्यायं बूहि कौतूहलं हि मे।।
ko hetuḥ kāraṇaṃ kiṃ vā kaṇṭhe nīlasttvamīśvara| etatsarvaṃ yathānyāyaṃ būhi kautūhalaṃ hi me||
Sūta said: “O lord, Master of the past and the future, O lord whose authority has been marked by a bullock (i.e. bull-bannered one), there is something sparkling in your neck, O great lord, resembling a cloud. O lord, O destroyer of the body of Kāma, what is this that shines in your white neck? It is not very deep and manifest. What is the cause? What is the reason that your neck is bluish, O lord? Narrate all these duly (as I have got curiosity and) I am eager (to hear it)