Shloka 52

ब्रह्मनारायणस्तवः — शिवस्य प्रभवत्व-प्रतिपादनम्

Devanagari script

सुमेधसे कुलालाय नमस्ते शशिखण्डिने चित्राय चित्रवेषाय चित्रवर्णाय मेधसे

Transliteration

sumedhase kulālāya namaste śaśikhaṇḍine citrāya citraveṣāya citravarṇāya medhase

Translation

Kính lễ Ngài, bậc đại trí; kính lễ Ngài, Đấng Thợ Gốm thiêng liêng nắn tạo các thế giới; kính lễ Ngài, Đấng đội vầng trăng. Con đảnh lễ Ngài, Đấng kỳ diệu, hiện vô vàn hình tướng và y phục kỳ diệu, sắc màu muôn vẻ—Ôi Trí Tuệ tự thân, xin nhận lòng tôn kính của con.

Word by Word

• su-medhase: to the very wise (of excellent intellect)

• kulālāya: to the potter/artisan (world-shaper)

• namas te: salutations to You

• śaśi-khaṇḍine: to Him who bears the crescent moon

• citrāya: to the wondrous/variegated One

• citra-veṣāya: to Him of wondrous forms/attires

• citra-varṇāya: to Him of many colors/manifestations

• medhase: to Intelligence, insight, sacred understanding

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stuti within the Linga Purana’s Linga-praise context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It functions as a name-offering (nāma-arcana) praising Shiva as the cosmic maker and as pure medhā (spiritual intelligence), guiding the devotee to worship the Linga as Pati—the conscious source shaping and sustaining creation.

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

Shiva is presented as both transcendent intelligence (medhā) and immanent artisan (kulāla) who manifests countless forms and colors, yet remains the one Lord (Pati) beyond the bonds (pāśa) that limit the pashu (individual soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nāma-japa/nāma-arcana as part of Linga-pūjā—contemplating Shiva’s epithets to purify cognition, strengthen devotion, and orient the pashu toward liberation through Pashupata-aligned remembrance of Pati.