Shloka 152

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

गन्धमाली च भगवान् अनन्तः सर्वलक्षणः संतानो बहुलो बाहुः सकलः सर्वपावनः

Transliteration

gandhamālī ca bhagavān anantaḥ sarvalakṣaṇaḥ saṃtāno bahulo bāhuḥ sakalaḥ sarvapāvanaḥ

Translation

Bhagavān Śiva wears the garland of sacred fragrance; the Infinite One, adorned with every auspicious mark. He is the source of all continuity and progeny, the Abundant, the many-armed Lord; the all-encompassing Whole, and the purifier of all beings and all bonds.

Word by Word

• गन्धमाली (gandhamālī): wearer of fragrant garlands / adorned with sacred scents

• च (ca): and

• भगवान् (bhagavān): the Blessed Lord, the Supreme (Pati)

• अनन्तः (anantaḥ): infinite, without end

• सर्वलक्षणः (sarvalakṣaṇaḥ): possessing all auspicious marks/attributes

• संतानः (saṃtānaḥ): continuity, lineage, progeny

• बहुलः (bahulaḥ): abundant, manifold, expansive

• बाहुः (bāhuḥ): arm

• सकलः (sakalaḥ): entire, complete, all-inclusive

• सर्वपावनः (sarvapāvanaḥ): purifier of all, sanctifier of all

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 highlights Shiva as “Gandhamālī”—the Lord pleased by gandha (fragrance) and mālā (garlands), core upacāras in Linga-pūjā, while affirming that the Linga-Lord is Sarvapāvana, the one who sanctifies the worshipper and the offering.

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

Shiva is presented as Ananta (limitless Pati) and Sakala (all-comprehensive), possessing all auspicious attributes (Sarvalakṣaṇa). As Sarvapāvana, he alone dissolves pāśa (bondage) and restores the pashu (soul) to purity through his grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it points to offering fragrances and garlands to the Linga as purificatory worship; yogically, it implies Pāśupata orientation—seeking the all-pervading Pati whose manifold powers (“many-armed”) remove impurities and bonds.