Shloka 104

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

अग्निज्वालो महाज्वालः परिधूम्रावृतो रविः धिषणः शङ्करो नित्यो वर्चस्वी धूम्रलोचनः

Transliteration

agnijvālo mahājvālaḥ paridhūmrāvṛto raviḥ dhiṣaṇaḥ śaṅkaro nityo varcasvī dhūmralocanaḥ

Translation

तो अग्नीची ज्वाला आणि महाज्वाला आहे; परिधीतील धुराने आच्छादित सूर्याप्रमाणे आहे. तो धिषणा—अंतर्बुद्धी; तो नित्य शंकर, तेजस्वी आणि धूम्रलोचन प्रभु आहे, ज्याची दृष्टी बंधन भस्म करते.

Word by Word

• अग्निज्वालः: the flame of fire

• महाज्वालः: the great conflagration/blaze

• परिधूम्रावृतः: enveloped/covered by surrounding smoke

• रविः: the Sun (radiant one)

• धिषणः: intelligence, inspired understanding (buddhi)

• शङ्करः: Śaṅkara, the auspicious benefactor

• नित्यः: eternal

• वर्चस्वी: radiant, full of spiritual brilliance

• धूम्रलोचनः: smoke-eyed, whose eyes are like smoke (mystic, consuming, veiling/unveiling).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ravi (Sun)
• Agni (Fire)

FAQs

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

It frames the Liṅga as pure tejas—Shiva’s self-luminous power that burns pasha (bondage) and reveals Pati as the inner light beyond smoke-like veils of ignorance.

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

Shiva is portrayed as eternal and auspicious (nitya, śaṅkara), simultaneously manifest as blazing transformative fire and as the sun-like consciousness that may appear veiled—yet remains the source of buddhi (dhiṣaṇa) and spiritual radiance (varcas).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pāśupata-oriented meditation on Shiva as inner light: contemplate the Liṅga as a blazing presence that consumes impurity, using japa of these names to pierce the ‘smoke’ of māyā and steady buddhi toward liberation.