Shloka 97

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

निमित्तस्थो निमित्तं च नन्दिर् नन्दिकरो हरः नन्दीश्वरः सुनन्दी च नन्दनो विषमर्दनः

Transliteration

nimittastho nimittaṃ ca nandir nandikaro haraḥ nandīśvaraḥ sunandī ca nandano viṣamardanaḥ

Translation

Baginda bersemayam dalam sebab perantara dan Baginda sendiri ialah sebab; Baginda ialah Nandi dan Penganugerah ananda (kebahagiaan suci); Baginda ialah Hara, Tuhan bagi Nandi, Yang Berbahagia lagi Mulia, Pemberi sukacita, serta Pemusnah viṣa—racun/berbisa.

Word by Word

• nimitta-sthaḥ: abiding in the (instrumental) cause

• nimittam: the instrumental cause/efficient cause

• ca: and

• nandiḥ: Nandi / the Blissful One

• nandikaraḥ: maker of joy, giver of bliss

• haraḥ: Hara, the Remover (of sins/bondage)

• nandīśvaraḥ: Lord of Nandi / Lord of the ganas

• sunandī: very auspiciously joyful, supremely blissful

• ca: and

• nandanaḥ: bestower of delight, gladdener

• viṣa-mardanaḥ: crusher/destroyer of poison (and the poison of saṃsāra)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as both the inner governor of all ritual instruments (nimitta-stha) and the very efficient cause (nimitta) of grace; in Linga-puja this supports the view that the Linga is not merely a symbol but the presence of Pati who empowers worship and grants ānanda.

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

Shiva is affirmed as Pati: the efficient cause behind cosmic functions and the remover (Hara) of pasha; He is also the source of auspicious bliss (Nandi, Sunandi) and the one who neutralizes the ‘poison’—both literal and the inner विष of ignorance and karmic affliction.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-japa and stotra-recitation (Sahasranama) are implied as a Pashupata-aligned sadhana: remembering Shiva as Hara and Vishamardana is a contemplative practice to burn impurities and loosen bondage while performing Linga-puja with Nandi-bhakti (devotion through the Shiva-ganas).