Shloka 9

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

सो ऽपि गोकर्णमाश्रित्य फलकेनानिलाशनः आराधयन्महादेवं यावद्वर्षायुतायुतम्

Transliteration

so 'pi gokarṇamāśritya phalakenānilāśanaḥ ārādhayanmahādevaṃ yāvadvarṣāyutāyutam

Translation

അവനും ഗോകർണ്ണത്തെ ആശ്രയിച്ച്, ഒരു പലകമേൽ മാത്രം വസിച്ച്, വായുവിനെ തന്നേ ആഹാരമാക്കി, മഹാദേവനെ ആരാധിച്ചു—പതിനായിരം ഗുണം പതിനായിരം വർഷങ്ങൾ വരെ।

Word by Word

• सः (saḥ): he

• अपि (api): also/too

• गोकर्णम् (gokarṇam): Gokarṇa (sacred kṣetra)

• आश्रित्य (āśritya): resorting to/taking refuge in

• फलकेन (phalakena): with a plank/wooden board (as austere seat/bed)

• अनिल-आशनः (anila-āśanaḥ): one whose food is air (breath-only, extreme fasting)

• आराधयन् (ārādhayan): worshipping/propitiating

• महादेवम् (mahādevam): Mahādeva (Śiva as Pati, the Supreme Lord)

• यावत् (yāvat): for as long as

• वर्ष-अयुत-अयुतम् (varṣāyuta-ayutam): ten-thousand ten-thousands of years (100 million years, hyperbolic tapas-duration)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)
• Gokarna (Kshetra)

FAQs

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

It frames Gokarṇa as a power-center (kṣetra) where unwavering ārādhana of Mahādeva—supported by severe tapas and restraint—becomes especially fruitful, underscoring that Linga-bhakti is strengthened by discipline (niyama) and sacred place.

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

Śiva is invoked as Mahādeva, the Pati (Lord) who is approached through sustained devotion and tapas; the verse implies that the bound soul (paśu) can turn inward, reduce dependence on sense-objects, and orient entirely toward the Supreme.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

An extreme form of tapas with breath-centered living (anilāśanaḥ) and austere observance (phalaka as minimal seat/bed), aligning with Pāśupata-style renunciation, self-restraint, and one-pointed worship (ārādhana).