Shloka 143

वासिष्ठकथनम् (आदित्य–सोमवंशवर्णनम् तथा रुद्रसहस्रनाम-प्रशंसा)

Devanagari script

आषाढश् च सुषाढश् च स्कन्धदो हरितो हरः वपुरावर्तमानो ऽन्यो वपुःश्रेष्ठो महावपुः

Transliteration

āṣāḍhaś ca suṣāḍhaś ca skandhado harito haraḥ vapurāvartamāno 'nyo vapuḥśreṣṭho mahāvapuḥ

Translation

祂是阿沙陀与苏阿沙陀——坚固而至坚；赐予力量与依托者；具青绿光辉者，亦是哈罗(Hara)，除去系缚者。祂使诸身转变、令形体流转，因示现种种形相而似成“他者”；然而祂本身即至上之形——大身之主，其广大显现遍满一切。

Word by Word

• आषाढः: steadfast/unyielding

• सुषाढः: perfectly steadfast, supremely firm

• स्कन्धदः: giver of support/strength (bestower of ‘skandha’, shoulder-bearing power)

• हरितः: green-hued, all-nourishing

• हरः: remover (of sins, pāśa/bondage), the Destroyer

• वपुरावर्तमानः: one who causes the turning/transforming of bodies, revolving through embodiments

• अन्यः: the other, the one who becomes different (assumes other forms)

• वपुःश्रेष्ठः: the best/supreme embodiment, most excellent form

• महावपुः: of great body, vast cosmic form

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

By naming Shiva as vapuḥśreṣṭha and mahāvapuḥ, the verse frames the Linga as the supreme, formless-yet-all-form Reality (Pati) that supports and pervades every embodiment, making Linga-puja a direct approach to the highest Shiva-tattva.

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

Shiva is both the transcendent supreme form (vapuḥśreṣṭha) and the immanent power that assumes many forms (anyo) and governs embodiment and transformation (vapurāvartamāna), while also being Hara—the remover of pāśa that binds the pashu (soul).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pashupata-oriented contemplation: meditate on Shiva as the inner governor of bodily change and the remover (Hara) of bondage, aligning worship and yoga toward liberation of the pashu through surrender to Pati.