Shloka 178

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

दत्त्वैनं नयनं चक्रं विष्णवे नीललोहितः पस्पर्श च कराभ्यां वै सुशुभाभ्यामुवाच ह

Transliteration

dattvainaṃ nayanaṃ cakraṃ viṣṇave nīlalohitaḥ pasparśa ca karābhyāṃ vai suśubhābhyāmuvāca ha

Translation

നീലലോഹിതൻ (ശിവൻ) വിഷ്ണുവിന് ഈ നേത്രവും ചക്രവും നൽകി, തന്റെ രണ്ട് ദീപ്തമായ കൈകളാൽ സ്പർശിച്ച് അരുളിച്ചെയ്തു।

Word by Word

• दत्त्वा (dattvā): having given/bestowed

• एनम् (enam): this/this one (these)

• नयनम् (nayanam): eye, divine sight

• चक्रम् (cakram): discus (Sudarśana-like emblem)

• विष्णवे (viṣṇave): to Viṣṇu

• नीललोहितः (nīlalohitaḥ): Nīlalohita, a form/name of Śiva

• पस्पर्श (pasparśa): touched

• च (ca): and

• कराभ्याम् (karābhyām): with (two) hands

• वै (vai): indeed

• सुशुभाभ्याम् (suśubhābhyām): with the very beautiful/resplendent (two)

• उवाच (uvāca): said/spoke

• ह (ha): (narrative particle) indeed/then.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the episode of Nīlalohita/Śiva and Viṣṇu)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Nīlalohita)
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It shows Śiva (Pati) as the giver of anugraha—bestowing divine sight and power—implying that all auspicious capacities used in dharma ultimately arise from the Lord of the Liṅga.

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

Śiva appears as Nīlalohita, the sovereign bestower who confers jñāna-dṛṣṭi (symbolized by the eye) and śakti (symbolized by the discus), indicating Pati as the source of empowerment and protection for the cosmos.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The emphasis is on anugraha (initiatory grace): like a guru’s empowering touch, Śiva’s contact signifies transmission of capacity—central to Śaiva sādhanā where pāśa is loosened through the Lord’s favor and right knowledge.