Shloka 101

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

लोककर्ता पशुपतिर् महाकर्ता ह्यधोक्षजः अक्षरं परमं ब्रह्म बलवाञ्छुक्त एव च

Transliteration

lokakartā paśupatir mahākartā hyadhokṣajaḥ akṣaraṃ paramaṃ brahma balavāñchukta eva ca

Translation

അവൻ ലോകകർത്താവ്; അവൻ പശുപതി—പാശബന്ധിത ജീവികളുടെ സ്വാമി (പതി). അവൻ മഹാകർത്താവ്, ഇന്ദ്രിയഗോചരത്തിന് അതീതനായ അധോക്ഷജൻ. അവൻ അക്ഷരം, പരമബ്രഹ്മം—ബലവാനും സത്യവാക്യ (ശുക്ത) സ്വരൂപനും.

Word by Word

• लोककर्ता: maker of the worlds

• पशुपतिः: Paśupati, Lord of paśus (souls)

• महाकर्ता: the great doer/creator

• हि: indeed

• अधोक्षजः: transcendent, beyond sensory perception

• अक्षरम्: imperishable

• परमम्: supreme

• ब्रह्म: Brahman, absolute reality

• बलवान्: mighty, powerful

• शुक्तः: well-spoken/true utterance (authoritative word)

• एव: indeed

• च: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shaiva eulogy within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the Linga’s deity as Paśupati—the sovereign Lord of all souls—so Linga-pūjā is directed to the transcendent Pati who creates and governs the worlds and grants liberation from bondage.

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

Shiva is presented as Adhokṣaja (beyond sense and mind), Akṣara (imperishable), and Parama Brahman—indicating Shiva-tattva as the supreme, unconditioned reality who remains immanent as world-maker yet transcendent to all measures.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as Paśupati and Adhokṣaja—turning the mind from sensory objects to the imperishable Pati, the liberator of the paśu from pāśa.