Shloka 141

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

तारणश्चरणो धाता परिधा परिपूजितः संयोगी वर्धनो वृद्धो गणिको ऽथ गणाधिपः

Transliteration

tāraṇaścaraṇo dhātā paridhā paripūjitaḥ saṃyogī vardhano vṛddho gaṇiko 'tha gaṇādhipaḥ

Translation

അവൻ താരണൻ—ബന്ധനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് കടത്തിവിടുന്ന രക്ഷകൻ; ചരണൻ—ശരണ്യപാദസ്വരൂപൻ; ധാതാ—ധാരകൻ. അവൻ പരിധാ—രക്ഷാവലയം, പവിത്രപരിധി; സർവ്വത്ര പരിപൂജിതൻ. അവൻ സംയോഗി—പശുവിനെ പതിയുടെ പഥത്തിൽ യോജിപ്പിക്കുന്നവൻ; വർധനൻ—പോഷകൻ; വൃദ്ധൻ—പ്രാചീന-പരിപക്വ തത്ത്വം. അവൻ ഗണികൻ—ഗണങ്ങളിൽ വസിക്കുന്നവൻ, കൂടാതെ ഗണാധിപൻ—ശിവഗണങ്ങളുടെ അധിപതി।

Word by Word

• तारण (tāraṇa): the Deliverer, who carries across saṃsāra

• चरण (caraṇa): the feet, refuge, sacred support

• धाता (dhātā): the Sustainer, supporter, ordainer

• परिधा (paridhā): enclosure, circumference, protective boundary

• परिपूजितः (paripūjitaḥ): worshipped on all sides, universally revered

• संयोगी (saṃyogī): the Unifier, yoker, one who joins (pashu to Pati / means to end)

• वर्धनः (vardhanaḥ): increaser, nourisher, promoter of growth

• वृद्धः (vṛddhaḥ): the Ancient, venerable, ever-wise

• गणिकः (gaṇikaḥ): associated with the Gaṇas, moving among the divine hosts

• गणाधिपः (gaṇādhipaḥ): Lord of the Gaṇas (Gaṇapati in the sense of Śiva as their supreme head)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (reciting the Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as seeking Shiva the Tāraṇa—Liberator from pasha (bondage)—and as taking refuge at His Caraṇa (feet), emphasizing grace and protection (paridhā) as central aims of puja.

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

Shiva is shown as Pati: the sustaining ordainer (Dhātā), the all-encompassing protector (Paridhā), the universally worshipped Lord (Paripūjita), and the unifying power (Saṃyogī) who connects the soul to liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Pashupata-oriented surrender and yoking (saṃyoga): devotion at Shiva’s feet, disciplined worship, and inner union where the pashu is joined to Pati through Shiva’s nurturing increase (vardhana) and ancient wisdom (vṛddha).