To day's Subhas

     To day,  on the auspicious occasion of "Mahaa Shivaraatri'\" here is a'Shloka' praising Lord Shiva,
composed by Goswaami Tulsi Das, the author of 'Sri Ramcharita Maanas'

यस्याङ्के च विभाति भूधरसुता देवापगा मस्तके
भाले बालविधुर्गले च गरलं यस्योरसिव्याल्रराट्    |
सोSयं  भूतिविभूषणः सुरवरः सर्वाधिपः सर्वदा
शर्वः सर्वगतः शिवः शशिनिभ: श्रीशंकरः पातुमाम्  ||

Yasyaanke cha vibhaati bhoodharasutaa devaapagaa mastake.
Bhaale baalavidhurgale cha garalam yasyorasivyaalraat.
soyam bhootivibhushanh suravarh sarvaadhiph sarvadaa.
Sharvh Sarvagath Shivah Shashinibhh Shrishankarh paatumaam

i.e.     Let  O God Shankar !  in whose lap Goddess Parvati is sitting, the sacred river Ganges adorns his forehead along with a crescent Moon, has retained most potent poison (called Halaahal) on  his throat (to protect the mankind) , and a snake around his neck like a garland, has smeared ash over his body as an ornamentation, is most reverred among all Gods, is sovereign, is destroyer (of evil and sorrows of his followers), having countenance like a full Moon, always protect me.

Yasyaanke = on whose lap.     Vibhati = adorns       Bhoodhar =a mountain.  Sutaa = daughter.
(Here it refers to Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva, who is the daughter of Himaalaya,the kind of all Mountains,according to Hindu Mythology.)
Devaapaga = Sacred river Ganges, supposed to have been originated from the feet of Lord Vishnu)
Deva = God .   Paga = feet.      Mastak = forehead.      Bhaale = forehead.    Baalavidhurgale = Baal + vidhu + gale.  Baal = young.   Vidhu = Moon    Baal Vidhu = a crescent moon.   Gale  = throat.
Yasya = whose.  Rasi = garland.  Vyaalraat = king of serpents.      Soyam = whose.
Bhooti (vibhooti) = ash.   Vibhooshana = ornamentation.     Suravarh = most reverred  among Gods .
Sarvaadhiph = sovereign .    Sharva = another name of Lord Shiva.   Sarvagath = supreme.
Shashinibhh = having countenance like the Moon.    Paatumaam = Paatu + maam.
Paatu = protect    Maam = me.