Shloka 75

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

महाशरो महापाशो नित्यो गिरिचरो मतः सहस्रहस्तो विजयो व्यवसायो ह्यनिन्दितः

Transliteration

mahāśaro mahāpāśo nityo giricaro mataḥ sahasrahasto vijayo vyavasāyo hyaninditaḥ

Translation

அவன் மகாசரம், மகாபாசம்; நித்தியன், கிரிசரன் எனப் புகழ்பெற்றவன். ஆயிரம் கைகளுடையவன்; அவனே வெற்றியின் வடிவம்—அசையாத முயற்சி, முற்றிலும் குற்றமற்றவன்.

Word by Word

• महाशरः: the great arrow (supreme, unfailing weapon)

• महापाशः: the great noose (bond and also the power to bind/loosen pashas)

• नित्यः: eternal

• गिरिचरः: mountain-roamer (dwelling in the Himalayas/ascetic wanderer)

• मतः: is held to be/known as

• सहस्रहस्तः: thousand-handed (limitless power and agency)

• विजयः: victory, the victorious one

• व्यवसायः: firm resolve, determined effort (yogic steadiness)

• हि: indeed

• अनिन्दितः: blameless, beyond reproach

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a Sahasranama-style meditation on the Linga’s indwelling Pati: Shiva as the supreme power who both binds and liberates the pashu (soul) through the pasha (bond), guiding the devotee toward victorious steadiness in worship.

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

Shiva-tattva is shown as nitya (eternal) and anindita (stainless), yet dynamically sovereign: the Great Arrow (piercing ignorance) and Great Noose (governing bondage and release), with limitless agency (sahasrahasta) culminating in vijaya (spiritual triumph).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports japa and dhyāna within Pashupata-oriented practice: contemplating Shiva as the controller of pasha while cultivating vyavasāya (firm yogic resolve) that leads to vijaya—mastery over inner bondage during Linga-puja and meditation.