Shloka 105

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

नीलस् तथाङ्गलुप्तश् च शोभनो नरविग्रहः स्वस्ति स्वस्तिस्वभावश् च भोगी भोगकरो लघुः

Transliteration

nīlas tathāṅgaluptaś ca śobhano naravigrahaḥ svasti svastisvabhāvaś ca bhogī bhogakaro laghuḥ

Translation

He is the Dark-Blue One; the One whose limbs are veiled from ordinary sight; the Auspicious and Splendid One who assumes a human-like form. He is well-being itself, and His very nature is benediction. He is the Enjoyer (Pati) and the Giver of enjoyments, and yet He remains light and unburdened—unbound by all experience.

Word by Word

• नीलः: the dark-blue/blue-throated Lord

• तथा: and also

• अङ्ग-लुप्तः: whose limbs are hidden/withdrawn (beyond perception)

• च: and

• शोभनः: splendid, auspicious, beautiful

• नर-विग्रहः: having a human form/manifesting in human-like embodiment

• स्वस्ति: welfare, auspiciousness, well-being

• स्वस्ति-स्वभावः: whose intrinsic nature is auspiciousness

• च: and

• भोगी: the enjoyer (the Lord as master of experience)

• भोग-करः: maker/bestower of enjoyments (giver of worldly and spiritual fruits)

• लघुः: light, subtle, unencumbered (unattached).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga’s Lord as Svasti itself—pure auspiciousness—so Linga-puja is not merely for material boons (bhoga) but for aligning the pashu (soul) with Pati who bestows fruits while remaining untouched.

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

Shiva is portrayed as both immanent and transcendent: manifesting in accessible forms (naravigraha) while being beyond grasp (aṅgalupta), the sovereign enjoyer and dispenser of experience (bhogī, bhogakara) yet intrinsically free and unbound (laghu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The key yogic takeaway is Pashupata-style dispassion: receive and offer all experiences back to Pati, cultivating ‘laghutva’ (lightness/non-attachment) even while engaging in prescribed worship and life-duties.