Shloka 159

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

निर्वाणं हृदयश्चैव ब्रह्मलोकः परा गतिः देवासुरविनिर्माता देवासुरपरायणः

Transliteration

nirvāṇaṃ hṛdayaścaiva brahmalokaḥ parā gatiḥ devāsuravinirmātā devāsuraparāyaṇaḥ

Translation

Dia ialah Nirvāṇa itu sendiri dan Hati yang terdalam; Dia ialah Brahmaloka dan Tujuan tertinggi. Dia Pencipta para Deva dan Asura, dan juga tempat kembali terakhir yang dicari oleh Deva dan Asura tanpa beza.

Word by Word

• निर्वाणम्: liberation, extinction of bondage (pāśa)

• हृदयः: the inner heart, the indwelling Self (antarātman)

• च एव: and indeed

• ब्रह्मलोकः: Brahmaloka, the highest cosmic realm

• परा गतिः: the supreme destination

• देवासुर-विनिर्माता: the maker/ordainer of Devas and Asuras

• देवासुर-परायणः: the ultimate resort/refuge of Devas and Asuras

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga’s Lord (Pati) as the supreme Goal (parā gatiḥ) and the inner Heart, so Linga-pūjā is not merely for worldly boons but for pāśa-kṣaya (release from bondage) culminating in nirvāṇa.

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

Shiva is presented as both transcendent liberation (nirvāṇa) and immanent indweller (hṛdaya), as well as the cosmic ordainer of all classes of beings—Devas and Asuras—showing Him as Pati beyond dualities.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The yogic takeaway is hṛdaya-dhyāna—meditating on Shiva as the indwelling Heart—aligned with Pāśupata orientation: the Pashu turns inward to the Pati as the sole refuge, seeking mokṣa rather than status in Brahmaloka.