Shloka 13

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

कालात्प्रयत्नतो ज्ञात्वा छायां छायापतिः प्रभुः वडवामगमत्संज्ञाम् अश्वरूपेण भास्करः

Transliteration

kālātprayatnato jñātvā chāyāṃ chāyāpatiḥ prabhuḥ vaḍavāmagamatsaṃjñām aśvarūpeṇa bhāskaraḥ

Translation

In due course, by careful effort, the Lord—the master over Chāyā—came to recognize her. Then Bhāskara (the Sun), assuming the form of a horse, went to Saṃjñā, who had taken the form of a mare.

Word by Word

• kālāt: in course of time

• prayatnataḥ: with effort, carefully

• jñātvā: having known/recognized

• chāyām: Chāyā (the shadow-form)

• chāyā-patiḥ: lord/master of Chāyā

• prabhuḥ: the powerful lord

• vaḍavām: the mare-form

• agamat: went/approached

• saṃjñām: Saṃjñā (Sūrya’s consort)

• aśva-rūpeṇa: in the form of a horse

• bhāskaraḥ: Bhāskara, the Sun

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purāṇic account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Samjna
• Chaya

FAQs

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

It encodes the Purāṇic principle of “Pati” (lordship) over “Chāyā” (shadow/appearance), a theme Linga worship internalizes: the Liṅga points to the Lord beyond changing forms, while devotees transcend māyic substitutes and return to the real divine presence.

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

Though the episode names Sūrya, the verse reflects a Shaiva Siddhānta lens where true sovereignty is Pati-tattva: the Lord discerns reality from shadow (chāyā) and restores right order. This mirrors Śiva as the supreme Pati who reveals truth to the pashu bound by pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A yogic takeaway is viveka (discriminative recognition) of “shadow” versus truth—akin to Pāśupata discipline of overcoming pāśas (bondages). Ritually, it supports upāsanā aimed at the formless Liṅga-principle rather than attachment to mere appearances.