Shloka 141

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

तारणश्चरणो धाता परिधा परिपूजितः संयोगी वर्धनो वृद्धो गणिको ऽथ गणाधिपः

Transliteration

tāraṇaścaraṇo dhātā paridhā paripūjitaḥ saṃyogī vardhano vṛddho gaṇiko 'tha gaṇādhipaḥ

Translation

ఆయన తారణుడు—బంధనసముద్రం దాటించువాడు; చరణుడు—శరణ్యపాదస్వరూపుడు; ధాత—ధారకుడు. ఆయన పరిధా—రక్షావలయం, పవిత్ర సరిహద్దు; సర్వత్ర పరిపూజితుడు. ఆయన సంయోగి—పశువును పతిపథంతో యోగింపజేయువాడు; వర్ధనుడు—పోషకుడు; వృద్ధుడు—ప్రాచీన-పరిపక్వ తత్త్వం. ఆయన గణికుడు—గణమధ్య నివసించువాడు, మరియు గణాధిపుడు—శివగణాధిపతి।

Word by Word

• तारण (tāraṇa): the Deliverer, who carries across saṃsāra

• चरण (caraṇa): the feet, refuge, sacred support

• धाता (dhātā): the Sustainer, supporter, ordainer

• परिधा (paridhā): enclosure, circumference, protective boundary

• परिपूजितः (paripūjitaḥ): worshipped on all sides, universally revered

• संयोगी (saṃyogī): the Unifier, yoker, one who joins (pashu to Pati / means to end)

• वर्धनः (vardhanaḥ): increaser, nourisher, promoter of growth

• वृद्धः (vṛddhaḥ): the Ancient, venerable, ever-wise

• गणिकः (gaṇikaḥ): associated with the Gaṇas, moving among the divine hosts

• गणाधिपः (gaṇādhipaḥ): Lord of the Gaṇas (Gaṇapati in the sense of Śiva as their supreme head)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (reciting the Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It frames Linga worship as seeking Shiva the Tāraṇa—Liberator from pasha (bondage)—and as taking refuge at His Caraṇa (feet), emphasizing grace and protection (paridhā) as central aims of puja.

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

Shiva is shown as Pati: the sustaining ordainer (Dhātā), the all-encompassing protector (Paridhā), the universally worshipped Lord (Paripūjita), and the unifying power (Saṃyogī) who connects the soul to liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to Pashupata-oriented surrender and yoking (saṃyoga): devotion at Shiva’s feet, disciplined worship, and inner union where the pashu is joined to Pati through Shiva’s nurturing increase (vardhana) and ancient wisdom (vṛddha).