Shloka 23

सूर्यरश्मिस्वरूपकथनम्

Surya-Rashmi Svarupa Kathana

Devanagari script

दक्षिणे विश्वकर्मा च रश्मिर्वर्धयते बुधम् विश्वव्यचास्तु यः पश्चाच् छुक्रयोनिः स्मृतो बुधैः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇe viśvakarmā ca raśmirvardhayate budham viśvavyacāstu yaḥ paścāc chukrayoniḥ smṛto budhaiḥ

Translation

ദക്ഷിണത്തിൽ ‘വിശ്വകർമ്മാ’ ഉണ്ട്; അവന്റെ രശ്മി ബുധനെ വർദ്ധിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. പടിഞ്ഞാറിൽ സ്ഥിതനായ ‘വിശ്വവ്യചാസ്’നെ പണ്ഡിതർ ‘ശുക്ര’ന്റെ യോനി, അഥവാ ജനനസ്രോതസ്സ്, എന്നു സ്മരിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• दक्षिणे: in the southern direction

• विश्वकर्मा: Viśvakarmā (divine artisan)

• च: and

• रश्मिः: ray, radiance

• वर्धयते: increases, strengthens

• बुधम्: Budha/Mercury

• विश्वव्यचाः: Viśvavyacās (a cosmic deity)

• तु: indeed

• यः: who

• पश्चात्: in the west/behind

• छुक्रयोनिः: source/womb of Śukra (Venus)

• स्मृतः: remembered, designated

• बुधैः: by the wise.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Vishvakarma
• Budha (Mercury)
• Vishvavyacas
• Shukra (Venus)

FAQs

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

It frames grahas and directions as regulated powers within Śiva’s cosmic order, reminding the devotee that planetary forces are not supreme—Pati (Śiva) is the ultimate governor, and Linga-worship aligns the pashu (soul) with that higher order.

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

By presenting planetary potency as dependent on specific divine agencies, the verse implies a hierarchy of powers culminating in the Lord who coordinates sṛṣṭi and niyati (cosmic law). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, these are functions within pāśa (the ordered field of experience), ultimately ruled by Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A practical takeaway is graha-śānti within Śiva-pūjā—propitiating Śiva through Linga-arcana while acknowledging directional and planetary influences as subordinate, thereby reducing pāśa-driven disturbances and supporting steadiness for sādhana.