Shloka 27

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

उत्कलस्योत्कलं राष्ट्रं विनताश्वस्य पश्चिमम् गया गयस्य चाख्याता पुरी परमशोभना

Transliteration

utkalasyotkalaṃ rāṣṭraṃ vinatāśvasya paścimam gayā gayasya cākhyātā purī paramaśobhanā

Translation

Quanto a Utkala, fala-se do célebre reino chamado Utkala; a oeste situa-se a região de Vinatāśva. Gaya também é celebrada como a esplêndida cidade de Gaya, supremamente bela e renomada como assento sagrado.

Word by Word

• उत्कलस्य (utkalasya): of Utkala

• उत्कलम् (utkalam): Utkala (name of a country/region)

• राष्ट्रम् (rāṣṭram): kingdom, realm

• विनताश्वस्य (vinatāśvasya): of Vinatāśva (a region/kingdom name)

• पश्चिमम् (paścimam): western (region/direction)

• गया (gayā): Gayā (holy place/city)

• गयस्य (gayasya): of Gaya (eponym/associated name)

• च (ca): and

• आख्याता (ākhyātā): is declared/known/celebrated

• पुरी (purī): city

• परम-शोभना (parama-śobhanā): exceedingly splendid, supremely beautiful

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It situates renowned kshetras (Utkala, the western region of Vinatāśva, and Gayā) within a sacred map, implying that Shiva-bhakti and Linga-upāsanā are supported by pilgrimage to celebrated regions where punya accrues and devotion becomes steady.

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

Indirectly: by sanctifying geography, the text reflects Shiva as Pati—the all-pervading Lord—whose grace is accessible through consecrated spaces; the holy city’s “splendor” points to the manifest field where the bound pashu turns toward liberation by remembrance and worship.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pilgrimage (tirtha-yātrā) and kshetra-sevā are implied—preparatory disciplines that purify pasha (bondage) and strengthen eligibility for Shiva-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented inner practice.