Shloka 122

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

सर्वाङ्गरूपी मायावी सुहृदो ह्यनिलो बलः बन्धनो बन्धकर्ता च सुबन्धनविमोचनः

Transliteration

sarvāṅgarūpī māyāvī suhṛdo hyanilo balaḥ bandhano bandhakartā ca subandhanavimocanaḥ

Translation

Er, dessen Gestalt allumfassend ist, der Lenker der Māyā, der gütige Freund; Er ist der Wind und die Kraft selbst. Er ist das Band und der Schöpfer der Bindung—und Er ist auch der Befreier, der die Wesen selbst von den festesten Fesseln löst.

Word by Word

• सर्वाङ्गरूपी: all-formed, pervading every limb/form

• मायावी: wielder of māyā, master of divine concealment

• सुहृदः: well-wisher, true friend

• हि: indeed

• अनिलः: wind, vital air (prāṇa)

• बलः: strength, power

• बन्धनः: bondage, fetter

• बन्धकर्ता: maker/author of bondage

• च: and

• सुबन्धन: strong/tight bondage, well-fastened fetter

• विमोचनः: releaser, liberator

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as Pati (the Lord) who alone governs pasha (bondage) and grants vimocana (release), so Linga-puja is approached as surrender to the one power that both binds and liberates the pashu (soul).

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as all-pervasive and sovereign over māyā: He can conceal through bondage (bandhana) and also reveal grace through liberation (vimocana), remaining the inner friend and life-wind (anila/prāṇa) sustaining all.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Pashupata-oriented sadhana: disciplining prāṇa (anila) and cultivating devotion to Pati so that the knots of pasha—especially the 'tight fetters' of ego and karmic limitation—are loosened through Shiva’s grace.