Shloka 118

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

शुक्लः स्त्रीरूपसम्पन्नः शुचिर्भूतनिषेवितः आश्रमस्थः कपोतस्थो विश्वकर्मा पतिर्विराट्

Transliteration

śuklaḥ strīrūpasampannaḥ śucirbhūtaniṣevitaḥ āśramasthaḥ kapotastho viśvakarmā patirvirāṭ

Translation

He is Śukla—the radiant and pure; endowed with the power that manifests as the feminine form, Śakti. He is Śuci, the stainless One, served even by the hosts of beings. Abiding in the sacred āśrama, the inner seat of disciplined practice, established in dove-like peace, He is Viśvakarmā, the cosmic architect; He is Pati, Lord of the paśu; and Virāṭ, the all-pervading Cosmic Being.

Word by Word

• शुक्लः: the radiant/pure one

• स्त्रीरूपसम्पन्नः: endowed with the feminine form (Śakti-possessing)

• शुचिः: the pure/stainless one

• भूतनिषेवितः: served by beings/attended by bhūtas

• आश्रमस्थः: abiding in an āśrama, established in disciplined abode

• कपोतस्थः: situated in the dove-state, resting in gentleness/peace

• विश्वकर्मा: the maker of the universe, cosmic architect

• पतिः: the Lord (Pati), master of pashus

• विराट्: the Vast/Cosmic Person, all-pervading

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names 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 worshipped Linga as the radiant, all-pervading Pati (Lord) who is both transcendent purity (Śuci) and immanent cosmic agency (Viśvakarmā, Virāṭ), making Linga-pūjā a direct approach to the Supreme who dissolves pasha (bondage) of the pashu (soul).

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as pure consciousness and purity (śukla, śuci), inseparable from Śakti (strīrūpasampanna), and as the governing Lord (pati) who pervades and forms the cosmos (virāṭ) while remaining the supreme source of cosmic order (viśvakarmā).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The epithets āśramastha and kapotastha point to disciplined inner dwelling and a calm, gentle steadiness—key dispositions for Pāśupata-oriented practice: purity, restraint, and meditative repose while performing Shiva-pūjā.