Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 163

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

उद्गतस्त्रिक्रमो वैद्यो वरदो ऽवरजो ऽम्बरः इज्यो हस्ती तथा व्याघ्रो देवसिंहो महर्षभः

Transliteration

udgatastrikramo vaidyo varado 'varajo 'mbaraḥ ijyo hastī tathā vyāghro devasiṃho maharṣabhaḥ

Translation

He is the Ever-Risen One; Trivikrama, the Three-Striding Lord; the Divine Physician; the Giver of boons; the Younger One, ever fresh; the all-pervading One like the sky; the One worthy of sacrificial worship; the Lordly Elephant; the Tiger; the Lion among the gods; and the Great Bull—Mahāṛṣabha.

Word by Word

• उद्गत (udgata): the risen/exalted one

• त्रिक्रम (trikrama): the three-striding, one who pervades the three worlds

• वैद्य (vaidya): physician, healer of the pashu’s bondage

• वरद (varada): boon-giver

• अवरज (avaraja): younger, ever-renewed

• अम्बर (ambara): sky, all-pervading space-like

• इज्य (ijya): worthy of worship/sacrifice

• हस्ती (hastī): elephant, sovereign strength

• व्याघ्र (vyāghra): tiger, fearless protector

• देवसिंह (devasiṃha): lion among the gods

• महर्षभ (maharṣabha): great bull, supreme among leaders (also evoking Nandin and dharma).

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a nāma-list for meditative Linga-pūjā: each epithet is a mantra-like handle for contemplating Shiva as Pati—pervading all (ambara), receiving worship (ijya), and granting grace (varada).

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

Shiva-tattva is presented as simultaneously transcendent and immanent: sky-like and all-pervading (ambara), yet personally compassionate as the healer (vaidya) who removes pasha (bondage) from the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nāma-japa and dhyāna are implied: reciting these names during Linga-arcana aligns the practitioner with Pāśupata intent—seeking purification, protection, and release from bonds through Shiva’s grace.