Shloka 131

Devanagari script

लोकबन्धुर्लोकनाथः कृतज्ञः कृतिभूषणः अनपाय्यक्षरः कान्तः सर्वशास्त्रभृतां वरः

Transliteration

lokabandhurlokanāthaḥ kṛtajñaḥ kṛtibhūṣaṇaḥ anapāyyakṣaraḥ kāntaḥ sarvaśāstrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ

Translation

وہ جہانوں کا رشتہ دار اور جہانوں کا مالک ہے؛ شکرگزار اور اہلِ کمال کا زیور۔ وہ نہ ٹلنے والا، لازوال حرفِ ازلی ہے؛ محبوب ہے اور تمام حاملینِ شاستر میں سب سے برتر۔

Word by Word

• लोकबन्धुः: kinsman/friend of the worlds

• लोकनाथः: Lord of the worlds

• कृतज्ञः: grateful, mindful of what is done

• कृतिभूषणः: ornament of the accomplished/meritorious

• अनपायी: never departing, unfailing

• अक्षरः: imperishable syllable, the imperishable reality

• कान्तः: beloved, beautiful one

• सर्वशास्त्रभृताम्: of all who uphold/possess the śāstras

• वरः: best, foremost

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By praising Shiva as Lokanātha (Lord of all worlds) and Akṣara (the imperishable reality), the verse frames Linga-worship as devotion to the supreme Pati who sustains and transcends the cosmos, not merely a local deity.

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

It presents Shiva as Pati: the intimate protector of beings (lokabandhu), the sovereign of manifestation (lokanātha), and the imperishable ground (akṣara) who remains unfailing (anapāyī) while pashus (souls) move through bondage (pāśa) and liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse primarily supports nāma-japa and stotra-pāṭha (recitation of Shiva’s names), a key limb of Shaiva devotion that purifies the pashu and orients awareness toward the Akṣara-Pati, complementing Linga-pūjā and Pāśupata-oriented discipline.