Shloka 171

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य फलं प्राप्य महायशाः गणाधिपत्यं सम्प्राप्तस् तण्डिनस्तेजसा प्रभोः

Transliteration

aśvamedhasahasrasya phalaṃ prāpya mahāyaśāḥ gaṇādhipatyaṃ samprāptas taṇḍinastejasā prabhoḥ

Translation

ആയിരം അശ്വമേധയാഗങ്ങളുടെ ഫലത്തുല്യമായ പുണ്യം പ്രാപിച്ച്, മഹായശസ്സനായ തണ്ഡിൻ പ്രഭുവായ (ശിവന്റെ) തേജോമയ അനുഗ്രഹത്താൽ ഗണാധിപത്യം നേടി.

Word by Word

• अश्वमेधसहस्रस्य: of a thousand Aśvamedhas

• फलं: fruit/merit

• प्राप्य: having obtained

• महायशाः: greatly renowned/glorious

• गणाधिपत्यं: lordship over the Gaṇas

• सम्प्राप्तस्: attained

• तण्डिनः: Taṇḍin (name of a Gana/devotee)

• तेजसा: by the splendor/power (grace)

• प्रभोः: of the Lord (Śiva)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Taṇḍin
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It declares that Shiva’s grace can bestow merit surpassing even vast Vedic rites, indicating Linga-centered devotion as a direct means to divine elevation and proximity to the Lord.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati—the sovereign Lord whose tejas (divine radiance/grace) confers status and spiritual fruit, showing that ultimate attainment depends on the Lord’s bestowal, not merely ritual mechanics.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes Shaiva merit rooted in the Lord’s anugraha (grace), aligning with Pashupata orientation where devotion and surrender to Pati lead to transformation of the pashu into Shiva’s attendant (gana).