Shloka 164

Devanagari script

विबुधाग्र्यः सुरः श्रेष्ठः स्वर्गदेवस्तथोत्तमः संयुक्तः शोभनो वक्ता आशानां प्रभवो ऽव्ययः

Transliteration

vibudhāgryaḥ suraḥ śreṣṭhaḥ svargadevastathottamaḥ saṃyuktaḥ śobhano vaktā āśānāṃ prabhavo 'vyayaḥ

Translation

Il est le premier parmi les sages, le meilleur des devas, le souverain suprême du ciel et le plus haut. En lui-même il est parfaitement unifié, faste et rayonnant; il est le véritable Parleur de la révélation, la source de toutes les directions et de toute espérance, l’Imperissable.

Word by Word

• विबुध-अग्र्यः: foremost among the wise/gods

• सुरः: deva, divine one

• श्रेष्ठः: the best, excellent

• स्वर्ग-देवः: lord of heaven/celestial ruler

• तथा-उत्तमः: likewise the highest

• संयुक्तः: united, perfectly integrated, in harmonious union

• शोभनः: auspicious, beautiful, radiant

• वक्ता: speaker, teacher, revealer

• आशानाम्: of the directions/hopes/desires

• प्रभवः: source, origin, lordly emergence

• अव्ययः: imperishable, undecaying

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’s Lord as the imperishable Pati—beyond merely celestial status—so worship is directed to the supreme source of all auspiciousness and guidance (āśā), not to limited heaven-bound powers.

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

Shiva is portrayed as vibudhāgrya (supreme consciousness among the wise), avyayā (unchanging), and prabhava (causal source). This aligns with Shaiva Siddhanta’s Pati: the transcendent yet revealing Lord (vaktā) who illumines and governs all orders.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pashupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as the imperishable source and inner teacher (vaktā), stabilizing the pashu’s mind away from pasha-bound desires toward the auspicious, integrated Lord (saṃyuktaḥ, śobhano).