Shloka 69

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

निशाचरः प्रेतचारी महाशक्तिर् महाद्युतिः अनिर्देश्यवपुः श्रीमान् सर्वहार्यमितो गतिः

Transliteration

niśācaraḥ pretacārī mahāśaktir mahādyutiḥ anirdeśyavapuḥ śrīmān sarvahāryamito gatiḥ

Translation

He is the Night-Wanderer and the Companion of spirits. He is of supreme Power (Mahāśakti) and vast radiance. His form is beyond definition; He is auspicious and resplendent. He is irresistible to all, and His course is immeasurable—Śiva, the Pati who transcends every limit.

Word by Word

• निशाचरः: night-wanderer (one who moves in the night)

• प्रेतचारी: one who moves among/with the departed spirits

• महाशक्तिः: of great power, supreme Śakti

• महाद्युतिः: of great splendor/radiance

• अनिर्देश्यवपुः: whose form cannot be pointed out or defined

• श्रीमान्: endowed with śrī (auspiciousness, majesty)

• सर्वहार्य: irresistible, captivating/overpowering to all

• अमितः: immeasurable, infinite

• गतिः: movement, way, course, refuge/goal

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Sahasranama within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It supports Linga-upāsanā by stressing Shiva’s anirdeśya-vapuḥ—His indefinable form—making the Linga an ideal symbol for the formless Pati who still grants auspicious presence (śrī) to devotees.

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

Shiva is portrayed as transcendent and immeasurable (amita-gati), yet immanent as overwhelming power and light (mahāśakti, mahādyuti). As Pati, He moves beyond all limits of name-and-form while ruling over all beings.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A contemplative Pāśupata practice is implied: dhyāna on Shiva as infinite radiance and indefinable reality, using the Linga as a steady support for concentration to loosen pāśa (bondage) binding the paśu (soul).