Shloka 15

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

लिखितो भास्करः पश्चात् संज्ञापित्रा महात्मना विष्णोश्चक्रं तु यद्घोरं मण्डलाद्भास्करस्य तु

Transliteration

likhito bhāskaraḥ paścāt saṃjñāpitrā mahātmanā viṣṇoścakraṃ tu yadghoraṃ maṇḍalādbhāskarasya tu

Translation

Thereafter Bhāskara (the Sun) was inscribed by the great-souled father of Saṃjñā; and from the Sun’s own maṇḍala (orb) there manifested that terrible discus of Viṣṇu. Here the Purāṇa intimates that even Vaiṣṇava weapon-power arises within the cosmic order upheld by the supreme Pati (Śiva), the inner ruler of all luminaries.

Word by Word

• लिखितः: was inscribed/engraved

• भास्करः: the Sun

• पश्चात्: thereafter

• संज्ञापित्रा: by the father of Saṃjñā (Viśvakarmā/Tvaṣṭṛ in Purāṇic usage)

• महात्मना: by the great-souled one

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu

• चक्रं: discus (Sudarśana)

• तु: indeed

• यत्: which

• घोरम्: terrible, awe-inspiring

• मण्डलात्: from the orb/circle

• भास्करस्य: of the Sun

• तु: indeed

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Bhaskara (Surya)
• Sanjna
• Vishnu
• Vishvakarma (implied as Saṃjñā’s father)

FAQs

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

By tracing even Viṣṇu’s formidable discus to a manifestation from the solar orb, the verse supports a Śaiva reading that all powers (śakti) operate within the cosmic order ultimately grounded in Pati (Śiva). Linga-worship trains the devotee to recognize that single Supreme source behind diverse divine functions.

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

Śiva-tattva is implied as the inner sovereign principle: while the verse names Sūrya and Viṣṇu, the Linga Purāṇa’s Purva-bhāga consistently frames such manifestations as dependent realities within the Lord’s governance—Pati as the unseen ground of devas, their radiance, and their instruments of protection.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pāśupata discipline: cultivate ekatva-darśana (seeing one Lord behind many forms). In practice, this supports mantra-japa and dhyāna on the Linga as the axis of all devatā-śaktis, rather than treating powers as independent.