Shloka 58

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

उन्मत्तवेषः प्रच्छन्नः सर्वलोकः प्रजापतिः महारूपो महाकायः सर्वरूपो महायशाः

Transliteration

unmattaveṣaḥ pracchannaḥ sarvalokaḥ prajāpatiḥ mahārūpo mahākāyaḥ sarvarūpo mahāyaśāḥ

Translation

He wears the guise of a mad ascetic, yet remains hidden beyond ordinary recognition. He is the very world of all beings, Prajāpati, Lord of progeny. Vast in form and cosmic in body, He assumes every form; His glory is immeasurable—Śiva, the Pati who transcends and pervades all.

Word by Word

• unmatta-veṣaḥ: one who has the guise/attire of a madman (avadhūta-like ascetic)

• pracchannaḥ: concealed, veiled, hidden

• sarva-lokaḥ: all worlds, the totality of realms/beings

• prajāpatiḥ: lord of creatures/progeny, cosmic progenitor

• mahā-rūpaḥ: of great/cosmic form

• mahā-kāyaḥ: of immense body, cosmic-bodied

• sarva-rūpaḥ: of all forms, assuming every form

• mahā-yaśāḥ: of great fame/glory

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within a Shiva-stuti/sahasranama-style passage)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva as both concealed and all-pervading—supporting Linga worship as devotion to the transcendent Pati who is beyond form yet present in every form.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as paradoxical: veiled to ordinary perception (pracchanna) yet identical with the cosmos (sarvaloka), the sovereign source (prajāpati), and the one who manifests as all forms (sarvarūpa).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway aligns with Pashupata Yoga: cultivate inner recognition of the Pati beyond external veils (veṣa), using worship and contemplation to pierce pasha (bondage) and perceive Shiva’s all-form nature.