Shloka 150

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

ऋषभो वृषभो भङ्गो मणिबिम्बजटाधरः इन्दुर्विसर्गः सुमुखः शूरः सर्वायुधः सहः

Transliteration

ṛṣabho vṛṣabho bhaṅgo maṇibimbajaṭādharaḥ indurvisargaḥ sumukhaḥ śūraḥ sarvāyudhaḥ sahaḥ

Translation

അവൻ ഋഷഭൻ, വൃഷഭൻ; ഭംഗൻ—ബന്ധനരൂപങ്ങളെ ഭംഗപ്പെടുത്തുന്നവൻ; മണിബിംബംപോലെ ദീപ്തമായ ജടാധാരി. അവൻ ഇന്ദു (ചന്ദ്രൻ)യും പവിത്ര വിസർഗവും; സുമുഖൻ, ശൂരൻ; സർവായുധധാരി, സഹൻ—എല്ലാം സഹിക്കുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• ऋषभः: the excellent one / bull-like Lord

• वृषभः: the bull, dharma-incarnate, strength and righteousness

• भङ्गः: breaker, dissolver (of bondage/obstacles)

• मणिबिम्बजटाधरः: bearer of matted locks shining like jewel-orbs

• इन्दुः: the moon

• विसर्गः: emission, sacred outflow, release (also dissolution/letting-go)

• सुमुखः: beautiful-faced, auspicious-countenanced

• शूरः: heroic, valiant

• सर्वायुधः: possessing all weapons/powers

• सहः: enduring, patient, capable of bearing (all).

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 functions as a meditative name-chain (nāma-smaraṇa) for the Liṅga, affirming Shiva as Pati—the all-supporting Lord (saha) whose power (sarvāyudha) protects the worshipper and whose grace breaks pasha (bhaṅga).

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

Shiva is portrayed as both auspicious presence and transformative power: dharma-strength (ṛṣabha/vṛṣabha), the dissolver of limiting bonds (bhaṅga/visarga), and the luminous transcendent marked by jata and Soma (maṇibimbajaṭādhara, indu).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Primarily nāma-japa and dhyāna on the Liṅga: contemplating Shiva as the breaker of bondage (bhaṅga) and cultivating steadfast endurance (saha), a key disposition aligned with Pāśupata discipline.