Shloka 165

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

गुरुः कान्तो निजः सर्गः पवित्रः सर्ववाहनः शृङ्गी शृङ्गप्रियो बभ्रू राजराजो निरामयः

Transliteration

guruḥ kānto nijaḥ sargaḥ pavitraḥ sarvavāhanaḥ śṛṅgī śṛṅgapriyo babhrū rājarājo nirāmayaḥ

Translation

ఆయన గురువు, ప్రియుడు; ఆయనే స్వకీయ సృష్టి-మూలం. పవిత్రుడు, సమస్త వాహనాల ఆధారం; శృంగి, శృంగప్రియుడు, బభ్రు, రాజరాజు, నిరామయుడు.

Word by Word

• गुरुः: the spiritual preceptor (Pati as the inner Guru)

• कान्तः: beloved, enchanting Lord

• निजः: one’s own, innermost

• सर्गः: emanation, creation, the source of projection

• पवित्रः: purifier, sanctifier

• सर्ववाहनः: bearer/support of all vehicles and carriers, sustainer of all moving beings

• शृङ्गी: horned, possessing projecting power/crest (symbol of potency)

• शृङ्गप्रियः: fond of the horned/bull-symbol (Nandin, dharma-power)

• बभ्रू: tawny-brown, the Babhrū form/name

• राजराजः: king of kings, sovereign over rulers

• निरामयः: free from disease, remover of affliction

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames the worshipped Linga-Lord as the inner Guru and supreme purifier—implying that Linga-puja is not only ritual sanctification but also the Pati’s grace that cleanses the pashu from pasha.

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

Shiva is presented as Pati: sovereign (rājarāja), self-present as one’s own innermost reality (nija), the source of manifestation (sarga), and intrinsically untouched by suffering (nirāmaya) while removing affliction for devotees.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Guru-bhāva and śuddhi (purification) central to Pashupata-oriented discipline: approaching Shiva as the Guru-Pati through Linga-puja and inner surrender to dissolve bondage.