Shloka 70

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

ऊर्ध्वरेतोर्ध्वलिङ्गी च ऊर्ध्वशायी नभस्तलः त्रिजटी चीरवासाश् च रुद्रः सेनापतिर् विभुः

Transliteration

ūrdhvaretordhvaliṅgī ca ūrdhvaśāyī nabhastalaḥ trijaṭī cīravāsāś ca rudraḥ senāpatir vibhuḥ

Translation

He whose vital power is ever directed upward, and who bears the uplifted Liṅga; who reclines aloft in the sky; the three-braided one; the wearer of bark-garments; Rudra—the commander of the divine hosts—the all-pervading Lord.

Word by Word

• ऊर्ध्वरेतः: one whose semen/vital energy moves upward (sublimated through yoga)

• ऊर्ध्वलिङ्गी: bearer of the uplifted liṅga / one with the upward sign (urdhva-liṅga)

• च: and

• ऊर्ध्वशायी: one who lies/reposes above (transcendent)

• नभस्तलः: the expanse of the sky / the firmament

• त्रिजटी: the three-braided (matted hair) one

• चीरवासाः: wearer of bark-garments/ascetic raiment

• रुद्रः: Rudra (the fierce, purifying form of Shiva)

• सेनापतिः: commander/generalissimo (lord of hosts/gaṇas)

• विभुः: the omnipresent, sovereign Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Rudra)

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as “ūrdhvaliṅgī,” linking the Liṅga to transcendence and yogic sublimation—worship of the Liṅga is thereby framed as worship of Pati who lifts the pashu beyond pasha (bondage).

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

Shiva is portrayed as Vibhu (all-pervading) and Nabhas-tala (pervading the sky/expanse), yet also as the austere ascetic (trijaṭī, cīravāsāḥ) and the purifying Rudra—both immanent and transcendent Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

“Ūrdhvaretā” points to brahmacarya and prāṇa/retas sublimation central to Pāśupata-oriented yoga and tapas, supporting inner Liṅga contemplation alongside external Liṅga-pūjā.