Shloka 47

Adhyaya 49: जम्बूद्वीप-मेर्वादि-वर्षपर्वत-वन-सरः-रुद्रक्षेत्र-वर्णनम्

Devanagari script

एकशृङ्गो महाशूलो गजशैलः पिशाचकः पञ्चशैलो ऽथ कैलासो हिमवांश्चाचलोत्तमः

Transliteration

ekaśṛṅgo mahāśūlo gajaśailaḥ piśācakaḥ pañcaśailo 'tha kailāso himavāṃścācalottamaḥ

Translation

एकशृङ्गो महाशूलो गजशैलः पिशाचकः । पञ्चशैलोऽथ कैलासो हिमवांश्चाचलोत्तमः ॥

Word by Word

• एकशृङ्गः: the one-peaked/one-horned (mountain-form)

• महाशूलः: the great trident-bearer

• गजशैलः: elephant-like mountain / elephant-mountain

• पिशाचकः: lord/leader of piśācas

• पञ्चशैलः: five-peaked mountain

• अथ: and then/also

• कैलासः: Kailāsa (Śiva’s sacred abode)

• हिमवान्: Himavān (the Himalayan range/personified)

• च: and

• अचलोत्तमः: best among the immovables (supreme mountain)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya; the verse functions as a Sahasranama-style litany of Shiva’s names)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kailasa
• Himavan
• Pishachas

FAQs

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

It supplies Shiva’s nāmas that can be recited as mantra during liṅga-pūjā; the mountain-epithets emphasize the Liṅga as the steadfast axis (acala) where the paśu takes refuge in Pati to loosen pāsas.

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

Shiva is presented as the unshakable, supreme support—like Kailāsa and Himavān—while also transcending fearsome domains (piśācas), showing His sovereignty over all beings and states of existence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Sahasranāma/nāma-japa as a limb of devotion supportive of Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā—steady remembrance of Pati (Śiva) to stabilize the mind and weaken bondage (pāśa).