Shloka 85

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

व्यालरूपी बिलावासी गुहावासी तरंगवित् वृक्षः श्रीमालकर्मा च सर्वबन्धविमोचनः

Transliteration

vyālarūpī bilāvāsī guhāvāsī taraṃgavit vṛkṣaḥ śrīmālakarmā ca sarvabandhavimocanaḥ

Translation

He assumes the form of the mighty serpent; He dwells in caves and hollow places; He knows the movements of waves and currents. He stands as the cosmic Tree; His sacred work is auspicious and radiant; and He liberates the paśus from every bond (pāśa).

Word by Word

• व्यालरूपी (vyālarūpī): one who takes the form of a serpent/ferocious being

• बिलावासी (bilāvāsī): dweller in holes/caverns

• गुहावासी (guhāvāsī): dweller in caves/secret abodes (also the indweller of the heart-cave)

• तरंगवित् (taraṅgavit): knower of waves/currents (knower of the mind’s fluctuations)

• वृक्षः (vṛkṣaḥ): the Tree, support of the worlds

• श्रीमालकर्मा (śrīmāla-karmā): whose action/work is auspicious and splendid (garlanded with Śrī)

• सर्वबन्धविमोचनः (sarva-bandha-vimocanaḥ): liberator from all bonds/bondage

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga as Pati—Shiva who pervades all abodes (caves, hollows, the inner heart-cave) and grants sarva-bandha-vimocana, liberation from pāśas; thus Linga-puja is directed toward bondage-release, not merely worldly boons.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as both immanent and transcendent: He assumes fearsome forms (vyālarūpī), dwells in hidden places (guhāvāsī), knows all movements (taraṅgavit), and stands as the sustaining support of the worlds (vṛkṣaḥ), culminating in His role as the liberator from bondage.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A Pashupata-oriented takeaway is inner-cave contemplation and restraint of mental “waves” (taraṅga) through japa and Linga-dhyana, aiming at cutting pāśas and realizing Shiva as the indwelling Pati.