Shloka 56

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

हरिश् च हरिणाक्षश् च सर्वभूतहरः स्मृतः प्रवृत्तिश् च निवृत्तिश् च शान्तात्मा शाश्वतो ध्रुवः

Transliteration

hariś ca hariṇākṣaś ca sarvabhūtaharaḥ smṛtaḥ pravṛttiś ca nivṛttiś ca śāntātmā śāśvato dhruvaḥ

Translation

Ngài là Hari và cũng là Hariṇākṣa, được tưởng niệm là Đấng thu nhiếp mọi loài. Ngài vừa là con đường Pravṛtti (dấn thân) vừa là con đường Nivṛtti (xuất ly). Tự Ngã của Ngài là an tịnh; Ngài vĩnh cửu và kiên cố bất động.

Word by Word

• हरिः (hariḥ): Hari—he who removes (sins/bondage), also the all-pervading Lord

• च (ca): and

• हरिणाक्षः (hariṇākṣaḥ): the Lord with deer-like (gentle, wide) eyes / the one of tawny-eyed radiance

• सर्वभूतहरः (sarvabhūtaharaḥ): the remover/withdrawer of all beings (at dissolution), the taker away of all embodied existence

• स्मृतः (smṛtaḥ): is remembered/called

• प्रवृत्तिः (pravṛttiḥ): outward activity, worldly engagement, the path of action

• च (ca): and

• निवृत्तिः (nivṛttiḥ): withdrawal, renunciation, the inward path leading to liberation

• च (ca): and

• शान्तात्मा (śāntātmā): one whose very Self is peace, tranquil essence

• शाश्वतः (śāśvataḥ): eternal, perpetual

• ध्रुवः (dhruvaḥ): fixed, firm, immovable (the steady Pati).

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

In Linga worship, Shiva is adored as the steady (dhruva) Pati who governs both worldly order (pravṛtti) and liberating withdrawal (nivṛtti); the devotee offers worship to transcend pasha (bondage) and rest in his śānta (peaceful) essence.

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

It presents Shiva-tattva as the eternal, immovable ground of being who both projects and withdraws the cosmos—he is the power behind engagement and renunciation, and the tranquil Self that remains when all beings are reabsorbed.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse points to the Pāśupata orientation of moving from pravṛtti (outer action and duty) to nivṛtti (inner detachment, mantra-japa, meditation on the Linga) so the pashu (soul) is freed from pasha and abides in Shiva’s peace.