Shloka 68

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

उष्णीषी च सुवक्त्रश् च उदग्रो विनतस् तथा दीर्घश् च हरिकेशश् च सुतीर्थः कृष्ण एव च

Transliteration

uṣṇīṣī ca suvaktraś ca udagro vinatas tathā dīrghaś ca harikeśaś ca sutīrthaḥ kṛṣṇa eva ca

Translation

Er trägt den edlen Kopfschmuck; er ist schön von Angesicht; er ist erhaben und zugleich demütig. Er ist weit und weitreichend; Herr des goldbraunen Haares; der Läuterer, der den Wesen zur heiligen Furt (tīrtha) wird; und der Dunkelfarbene — Śiva allein.

Word by Word

• uṣṇīṣī: wearer of a turban/royal head-ornament

• ca: and

• suvaktraḥ: beautiful-faced, auspicious-visaged

• ca: and

• udagraḥ: exalted, lofty, eminent

• vinataḥ: humble, bowed, modest

• tathā: likewise/also

• dīrghaḥ: long, vast, far-extending

• ca: and

• harikeśaḥ: tawny-/golden-haired, having Hari-colored hair

• ca: and

• sutīrthaḥ: excellent tīrtha, maker of sacred fords, supreme purifier

• kṛṣṇaḥ: dark-hued, mysterious/hidden One

• eva: indeed/alone

• ca: and

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?

This verse functions as a segment of the Shiva Sahasranama used in Linga-puja and japa: by naming Śiva as the supreme purifier (sutīrtha) and the transcendent Lord (both udagra and vinata), the worshipper approaches the Linga as Pati—the refuge that dissolves pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).

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

It presents Śiva as paradox-transcending: simultaneously exalted and humble, vast and intimate, luminous (harikeśa) yet dark-hued (kṛṣṇa). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, these names indicate Pati who surpasses limited attributes while compassionately manifesting qualities for the uplift of bound souls.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-japa of Shiva’s epithets within Linga Purana’s Sahasranama tradition—used as an upāya (means) in Pashupata-oriented devotion to purify the mind and orient the paśu toward Pati through remembrance and recitation.