Shloka 56

सूर्यरथ-रचना, ध्रुव-प्रेरणा, मास-गणाः च

Jyotish-chakra: Surya’s Motion and Monthly Retinues

Devanagari script

धनञ्जय इरावांश् च सुरुचिः सपरावसुः घृताची चाप्सरःश्रेष्ठा विश्वाची चातिशोभना

Transliteration

dhanañjaya irāvāṃś ca suruciḥ saparāvasuḥ ghṛtācī cāpsaraḥśreṣṭhā viśvācī cātiśobhanā

Translation

ധനഞ്ജയനും ഇരാവാനും, സുരുചിയും സപരാവസുവും; കൂടാതെ ഘൃതാചി—അപ്സരസ്സുകളിൽ ശ്രേഷ്ഠ—മറ്റും വിശ്വാചി—അത്യന്തം ദീപ്തിമതി—(എന്നിവ) പേരുകളായി പറയുന്നു।

Word by Word

• धनञ्जय (Dhanañjaya): Dhanañjaya (a celestial being by name)

• इरावान् (Irāvān): Irāvān (a celestial being by name)

• च (ca): and

• सुरुचिः (Suruciḥ): Suruci (a celestial being by name)

• सपरावसुः (Saparāvasuḥ): Saparāvasu (a celestial being by name)

• घृताची (Ghṛtācī): Ghṛtācī (an apsaras)

• च (ca): and

• अप्सरः-श्रेष्ठा (apsaraḥ-śreṣṭhā): the best/foremost among the apsarases

• विश्वाची (Viśvācī): Viśvācī (an apsaras)

• च (ca): and

• अतिशोभना (atiśobhanā): exceedingly beautiful, highly resplendent

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Dhanañjaya
• Irāvān
• Suruci
• Saparāvasu
• Ghṛtācī
• Viśvācī
• Apsarases
• Shiva

FAQs

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

By naming Shiva-aligned celestial beings and apsarases, the verse frames Linga worship as participation in Shiva’s cosmic order (Pati’s domain), where all ranks of beings honor the Lord.

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

Shiva-tattva is implied as sovereign governance: Pati is the center around whom divine assemblies and celestial functions are organized, indicating His lordship over manifested worlds and their inhabitants.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

No specific puja-vidhi is stated; the takeaway is the contemplative practice of smaraṇa (recollection) of Shiva’s cosmic entourage during Linga-puja, strengthening devotion and alignment with Pashupata reverence.