Shloka 169

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

यथाप्रधानं भगवान् इति भक्त्या स्तुतो मया भक्तिमेवं पुरस्कृत्य मया यज्ञपतिर्विभुः

Transliteration

yathāpradhānaṃ bhagavān iti bhaktyā stuto mayā bhaktimevaṃ puraskṛtya mayā yajñapatirvibhuḥ

Translation

جو سب سے برتر ہے، اسی کے مطابق میں نے بھکتی سے انہیں ‘بھگوان’ کہہ کر سراہا۔ یوں بھکتی کو پیشِ نظر رکھ کر میں نے ہمہ گیر یَجْنَپتی—شیو کی ستوتی کی۔

Word by Word

• yathā-pradhānam: according to what is primary/foremost

• bhagavān: the Blessed Lord (Pati, possessor of lordly powers)

• iti: thus/as

• bhaktyā: with devotion

• stutaḥ: praised

• mayā: by me

• bhaktim: devotion (loving surrender)

• evam: in this manner

• puraskṛtya: placing in front, giving precedence to

• yajña-patiḥ: Lord of sacrifice, master of yajña (Shiva as the inner enjoyer and regulator)

• vibhuḥ: the all-pervading, sovereign Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the puranic account; the 'I' refers to the internal narrator/devotee within the cited episode)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that bhakti is to be placed foremost (puraskṛtya) when praising Shiva; Linga-worship is not mere ritual formality but devotion-centered approach to the Pati (Shiva) who sanctifies all offerings.

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

Shiva is presented as Bhagavān and Vibhu—sovereign and all-pervading—and as Yajñapati, the inner lord who receives and regulates sacrifice, indicating transcendence while immanently pervading all sacred action.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The takeaway is that yajña and stuti become efficacious when performed with bhakti; in Pashupata-oriented practice, devotion is the inner discipline that loosens Pāśa (bondage) for the Pashu (soul) under the grace of Pati (Shiva).