Shloka 16

Vighneshvara-Prashna and Deva-Krita Shiva-Stava

Adhyaya 104

Devanagari script

षोडशस्वरवज्राङ्गवक्त्रायाक्षयरूपिणे कादिपञ्चकहस्ताय चादिहस्ताय ते नमः

Transliteration

ṣoḍaśasvaravajrāṅgavaktrāyākṣayarūpiṇe kādipañcakahastāya cādihastāya te namaḥ

Translation

Verehrung sei Dir—dessen Antlitz durch die Kraft der sechzehn heiligen Vokale strahlt und unerschütterlich wie Vajra ist; dessen Wesen unvergänglich ist; der ‘ka’ und die fünffache Buchstabengruppe als Seine Hand (Mantra-Macht) trägt; und der selbst die Ur-Hand ist, der erste Ursprung aller Wirksamkeit.

Word by Word

• ṣoḍaśa: sixteen

• svara: vowels/sounds

• vajra-aṅga: adamantine (vajra-like) limbs

• vaktra: face/mouth

• -āya: to (dative)

• akṣaya: imperishable/inexhaustible

• rūpiṇe: to the One whose form is

• kādi: beginning with ‘ka’ (the ka-varga / first consonantal series)

• pañcaka: group of five

• hastāya: to the One whose hand/holding/power is

• ca: and

• ādi: primordial/first

• te: to You

• namaḥ: salutation

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stotra/nāmāvali to the Sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-worship as worship of Shiva’s imperishable Pati-tattva revealed through śabda (sacred sound): the vowels and consonantal groups symbolize the mantra-body by which the devotee approaches the Linga as the living presence of Mahadeva.

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

Shiva is praised as akṣaya-rūpin—unchanging and inexhaustible—while also being the source of articulation and mantra-power (vaktra, “hand” of letters). This unites transcendence (beyond decay) with immanence (present as the power of sound that guides the pashu toward liberation).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa and varṇa-nyāsa style contemplation are implied: meditating on Shiva as the ground of all phonemes supports Pashupata-oriented sādhanā where pashu loosens pāśa (bondage) through disciplined recitation and inner absorption in the Linga.