Shloka 104

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

अग्निज्वालो महाज्वालः परिधूम्रावृतो रविः धिषणः शङ्करो नित्यो वर्चस्वी धूम्रलोचनः

Transliteration

agnijvālo mahājvālaḥ paridhūmrāvṛto raviḥ dhiṣaṇaḥ śaṅkaro nityo varcasvī dhūmralocanaḥ

Translation

هو لهيبُ النار، والاتّقادُ العظيم؛ وهو الشمسُ المحجوبةُ بدخانٍ يحيط بها. هو الذكاءُ الفطريّ (دِهِيصَنَة)، وهو شانكرا المباركُ أبدًا—أزليّ، متلألئٌ بجلالٍ روحيّ، وهو الربُّ ذو العينين الدخانيّتين الذي يلتهمُ نظرُه قيودَ العبودية.

Word by Word

• अग्निज्वालः: the flame of fire

• महाज्वालः: the great conflagration/blaze

• परिधूम्रावृतः: enveloped/covered by surrounding smoke

• रविः: the Sun (radiant one)

• धिषणः: intelligence, inspired understanding (buddhi)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara, the auspicious benefactor

• नित्यः: eternal

• वर्चस्वी: radiant, full of spiritual brilliance

• धूम्रलोचनः: smoke-eyed, whose eyes are like smoke (mystic, consuming, veiling/unveiling).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ravi (Sun)
• Agni (Fire)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames the Liṅga as pure tejas—Shiva’s self-luminous power that burns pasha (bondage) and reveals Pati as the inner light beyond smoke-like veils of ignorance.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is portrayed as eternal and auspicious (nitya, śaṅkara), simultaneously manifest as blazing transformative fire and as the sun-like consciousness that may appear veiled—yet remains the source of buddhi (dhiṣaṇa) and spiritual radiance (varcas).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-oriented meditation on Shiva as inner light: contemplate the Liṅga as a blazing presence that consumes impurity, using japa of these names to pierce the ‘smoke’ of māyā and steady buddhi toward liberation.