Shloka 27

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

उत्कलस्योत्कलं राष्ट्रं विनताश्वस्य पश्चिमम् गया गयस्य चाख्याता पुरी परमशोभना

Transliteration

utkalasyotkalaṃ rāṣṭraṃ vinatāśvasya paścimam gayā gayasya cākhyātā purī paramaśobhanā

Translation

ഉത്കലയ്ക്ക് ‘ഉത്കല’ എന്ന പ്രസിദ്ധ രാജ്യമാണ് പറയപ്പെടുന്നത്. അതിന്റെ പടിഞ്ഞാറ് വിനതാശ്വദേശമുണ്ട്. ഗയയും ‘ഗയാ’ എന്ന പേരിൽ ഖ്യാതമായ പരമശോഭന നഗരി—അതിപുണ്യ തീർത്ഥപീഠമായി സർവ്വത്ര പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്.

Word by Word

• उत्कलस्य (utkalasya): of Utkala

• उत्कलम् (utkalam): Utkala (name of a country/region)

• राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram): kingdom, realm

• विनताश्वस्य (vinatāśvasya): of Vinatāśva (a region/kingdom name)

• पश्चिमम् (paścimam): western (region/direction)

• गया (gayā): Gayā (holy place/city)

• गयस्य (gayasya): of Gaya (eponym/associated name)

• च (ca): and

• आख्याता (ākhyātā): is declared/known/celebrated

• पुरी (purī): city

• परम-शोभना (parama-śobhanā): exceedingly splendid, supremely beautiful

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It situates renowned kshetras (Utkala, the western region of Vinatāśva, and Gayā) within a sacred map, implying that Shiva-bhakti and Linga-upāsanā are supported by pilgrimage to celebrated regions where punya accrues and devotion becomes steady.

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

Indirectly: by sanctifying geography, the text reflects Shiva as Pati—the all-pervading Lord—whose grace is accessible through consecrated spaces; the holy city’s “splendor” points to the manifest field where the bound pashu turns toward liberation by remembrance and worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pilgrimage (tirtha-yātrā) and kshetra-sevā are implied—preparatory disciplines that purify pasha (bondage) and strengthen eligibility for Shiva-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented inner practice.