Shloka 87

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

विशिष्टः काश्यपो भानुर् भीमो भीमपराक्रमः प्रणवः सप्तधाचारो महाकायो महाधनुः

Transliteration

viśiṣṭaḥ kāśyapo bhānur bhīmo bhīmaparākramaḥ praṇavaḥ saptadhācāro mahākāyo mahādhanuḥ

Translation

هو المتميّز؛ كاشيابا؛ الشمسُ المتألّقة؛ المهيبُ ذو البأسِ المهيب. هو البرَنَفَة (أوم) بذاته؛ الربُّ ذو السلوك السباعي؛ عظيمُ الجسد؛ وحاملُ القوس العظيم—مهاديڤا، الـPati الذي يقطعُ حبالَ الـpāśa التي تُقيِّدُ الـpaśu.

Word by Word

• विशिष्टः (viśiṣṭaḥ): the distinguished, supremely excellent

• काश्यपः (kāśyapaḥ): Kāśyapa (seer/primordial progenitor aspect)

• भानुः (bhānuḥ): the radiant one, sun-like illuminator

• भीमः (bhīmaḥ): the terrible, awe-inspiring

• भीमपराक्रमः (bhīmaparākramaḥ): of fearsome valor/power

• प्रणवः (praṇavaḥ): the sacred syllable Oṁ, the primal vibration

• सप्तधाचारः (saptadhācāraḥ): whose discipline/conduct is sevenfold, master of seven modes of right order

• महाकायः (mahākāyaḥ): of immense body, all-pervading form

• महाधनुः (mahādhanuḥ): bearer of the great bow, supreme archer-power

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a Sahasranama-style dhyāna: by reciting these epithets while worshipping the Linga, the devotee contemplates Shiva as Pati—radiant, awe-inspiring, and the primal Om—thereby loosening pāśas (bondages) that limit the paśu (individual soul).

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

Shiva is presented as both transcendent and immanent: the Pranava (source of mantra and consciousness), Bhānu (inner light that reveals truth), and Mahākāya (all-pervading magnitude), while also being Bhīma—His power that destroys ignorance and protects dharma.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nāma-japa and Om-centered contemplation: meditating on Shiva as Praṇava and as the sevenfold-ordered Lord (saptadhācāra) aligns the practitioner with Pāśupata discipline—purifying conduct and directing awareness toward liberation.