Shloka 47

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

गणैश्वर्यमनुप्राप्तो भवभक्तः प्रतापवान् कथं चैवाश्वमेधं वै करोमीति विचिन्तयन्

Transliteration

gaṇaiśvaryamanuprāpto bhavabhaktaḥ pratāpavān kathaṃ caivāśvamedhaṃ vai karomīti vicintayan

Translation

Nachdem er die Herrschaft unter Śivas Gaṇas erlangt hatte, sann jener tapfere Bhava-(Śiva-)Bhakta nach: „Wie soll ich wahrlich das Aśvamedha-Opfer vollziehen?“

Word by Word

• गणैश्वर्यम्: lordship/sovereignty among the gaṇas

• अनुप्राप्तः: having attained/obtained

• भव-भक्तः: devotee of Bhava (Shiva)

• प्रतापवान्: radiant with prowess/valor

• कथम्: how

• च एव: and indeed

• अश्वमेधम्: the Aśvamedha (horse-sacrifice)

• वै: truly/indeed

• करोमि इति: 'shall I do/perform?' thus

• विचिन्तयन्: reflecting/pondering

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Bhava)
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It shows that Shiva-bhakti can confer gaṇaiśvarya (divine station among Shiva’s attendants), and even Vedic rites like the Aśvamedha are approached as offerings aligned to Pati (Shiva), not as mere worldly ambition.

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

By naming Shiva as “Bhava,” it points to Shiva as the Lord of becoming and transcendence—Pati who elevates the pashu (individual soul) from limited identity toward divine participation through devotion.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse highlights the intention to perform the Aśvamedha yajña, framed through Shaiva devotion—suggesting that ritual efficacy is grounded in bhakti to Shiva and the right inner resolve (saṅkalpa).