Shloka 112

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

वृषको वृषकेतुश् च अनलो वायुवाहनः मण्डली मेरुवासश् च देववाहन एव च

Transliteration

vṛṣako vṛṣaketuś ca analo vāyuvāhanaḥ maṇḍalī meruvāsaś ca devavāhana eva ca

Translation

He is Vṛṣaka and Vṛṣaketu; He is Anala, the blazing Fire; He is Vāyuvāhana, borne upon the Wind; He is Maṇḍalī, Lord of the cosmic cycles; He abides on Meru; and He alone is the divine bearer who carries and upholds the gods.

Word by Word

• वृषकः (vṛṣakaḥ): the Bull-like Lord, emblem of dharma and Nandin

• वृषकेतुः (vṛṣaketuḥ): whose banner is the bull, the one marked by the bull-standard

• अनलः (analaḥ): fire, the consuming radiance

• वायुवाहनः (vāyuvāhanaḥ): borne by the wind / mover through the vāyu-principle

• मण्डली (maṇḍalī): ruler of circles, cosmic orb/cycle-lord

• मेरुवासः (meruvāsaḥ): dweller on Mount Meru

• देववाहनः (devavāhanaḥ): carrier/support of the gods, divine vehicle-bearer

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Agni
• Vayu
• Meru
• Devas

FAQs

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

It functions as a Sahasranama-style dhyana for Linga-puja: by naming Shiva as fire (Anala), wind-moving (Vayuvahana), and Meru-dweller, the worshipper recognizes the Linga as the Pati who pervades and supports all tattvas and worlds.

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

Shiva is presented as transcendent yet immanent—manifest as elemental powers like Agni and Vayu, established as the cosmic axis (Meruvasa), and as Mandali, the regulator of cycles—showing Pati as the ground of all cosmic functions while remaining their Lord.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Name-recitation (nama-japa) and elemental contemplation are implied: meditate on Shiva as the inner fire and life-wind to loosen pasha (bondage) of the pashu (soul) and stabilize awareness in the Pati during Linga-upasana.