Shloka 69

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

निशाचरः प्रेतचारी महाशक्तिर् महाद्युतिः अनिर्देश्यवपुः श्रीमान् सर्वहार्यमितो गतिः

Transliteration

niśācaraḥ pretacārī mahāśaktir mahādyutiḥ anirdeśyavapuḥ śrīmān sarvahāryamito gatiḥ

Translation

هو سائرُ الليل ورفيقُ الأرواح. له المهاشَكتي (Mahāśakti) وله المها دْيُوتي (Mahādyuti)؛ إشراقٌ عظيم. هيئته لا تُحدّ بوصف؛ هو ذو يمنٍ وبهاء. لا يُقاوَم من أحد، ومساره لا يُقاس—شيفا (Śiva)، البَتي (Pati) المتعالي عن كل حدّ.

Word by Word

• निशाचरः: night-wanderer (one who moves in the night)

• प्रेतचारी: one who moves among/with the departed spirits

• महाशक्तिः: of great power, supreme Śakti

• महाद्युतिः: of great splendor/radiance

• अनिर्देश्यवपुः: whose form cannot be pointed out or defined

• श्रीमान्: endowed with śrī (auspiciousness, majesty)

• सर्वहार्य: irresistible, captivating/overpowering to all

• अमितः: immeasurable, infinite

• गतिः: movement, way, course, refuge/goal

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It supports Linga-upāsanā by stressing Shiva’s anirdeśya-vapuḥ—His indefinable form—making the Linga an ideal symbol for the formless Pati who still grants auspicious presence (śrī) to devotees.

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

Shiva is portrayed as transcendent and immeasurable (amita-gati), yet immanent as overwhelming power and light (mahāśakti, mahādyuti). As Pati, He moves beyond all limits of name-and-form while ruling over all beings.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative Pāśupata practice is implied: dhyāna on Shiva as infinite radiance and indefinable reality, using the Linga as a steady support for concentration to loosen pāśa (bondage) binding the paśu (soul).