Shloka 116

Devanagari script

नगो नीलः कविः कालो मकरः कालपूजितः सगणो गणकारश् च भूतभावनसारथिः

Transliteration

nago nīlaḥ kaviḥ kālo makaraḥ kālapūjitaḥ sagaṇo gaṇakāraś ca bhūtabhāvanasārathiḥ

Translation

Siya ang Naga, tulad ng bundok; Siya ang Nīla, may madilim na kulay; Siya ang Kavi, ang makatang-manghuhula; Siya ang Kāla, ang Panahon mismo; Siya ang Panginoong may sagisag na Makara; Siya ang sinasamba bilang Panahon; Siya ang laging may kasamang mga Gaṇa; Siya ang lumikha at pinuno ng mga Gaṇa; at Siya ang Sārathi, ang tagapagpatakbo ng karwahe na gumagabay at nag-aangat sa lahat ng nilalang.

Word by Word

• नगः: mountain-like/immovable Lord

• नीलः: dark-blue/black-hued One

• कविः: seer, inspired sage-poet

• कालः: Time, the all-consuming principle

• मकरः: Makara (mythic aquatic emblem

• कालपूजितः: worshiped in the form of Time / worshiped by Time

• सगणः: accompanied by the Gaṇas

• गणकारः: maker/organizer of the Gaṇas

• च: and

• भूत: beings/elements/creatures

• भावन: nourisher, cause of becoming, sanctifier

• सारथिः: charioteer, guide, director

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Sahasranama section to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas

FAQs

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

It functions as a Sahasranama-style praise used in Linga-pūjā: by naming Shiva as Time (Kāla), as Gaṇa-lord, and as the guide of beings, the worshiper aligns the pashu (soul) with Pati (the Lord) who dissolves pasha (bondage) through right remembrance and devotion.

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

Shiva is presented as both transcendent and immanent: the immovable support (Naga), the mysterious dark radiance (Nīla), the omniscient seer (Kavi), and the sovereign principle of Time (Kāla) who governs becoming while still compassionately steering beings as their inner director (Bhūtabhāvana-sārathi).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Primarily nāma-japa (recitation of divine names) within Linga-pūjā; yogically, it points to Pāśupata contemplation of Shiva as Kāla (the regulator of mind and karma) and as the inner sārathi guiding the practitioner from pasha to liberation.