Shloka 129

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

जीवितान्तकरो नित्यो वसुरेता वसुप्रियः सद्गतिः सत्कृतिः सक्तः कालकण्ठः कलाधरः

Transliteration

jīvitāntakaro nityo vasuretā vasupriyaḥ sadgatiḥ satkṛtiḥ saktaḥ kālakaṇṭhaḥ kalādharaḥ

Translation

祂是终结有身之命者，亦是永恒者；祂为瓦苏雷多（Vasuretā），其种子即富饶之精髓，亦为诸瓦苏所爱。祂是真实归依，赐予如法之敬礼；恒常勤行以维系宇宙秩序。祂是迦罗迦ṇṭha（Kālakāṇṭha），时间之暗喉主宰，并承载一切kalā——诸神圣技艺与诸分位。

Word by Word

• jīvita-anta-karaḥ: the maker of the end of mortal life (the one who withdraws prāṇa at death)

• nityaḥ: eternal, beyond time

• vasu-retāḥ: whose retas (creative potency/seed) is vasu—radiant wealth/essence

• vasu-priyaḥ: dear to the Vasus (and the giver of prosperity)

• sat-gatiḥ: true path/refuge leading to liberation

• sat-kṛtiḥ: right action/true honoring

• saktaḥ: engaged, intent, powerfully attached to dharma and cosmic function

• kāla-kaṇṭhaḥ: the one whose throat is time/darkness, the devourer of time

• kalā-dharaḥ: bearer of kalās—arts, powers, phases (including lunar digits and divine energies).

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vasus
• Kala (Time)

FAQs

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

It frames the Linga-Lord as Pati: the one who both sustains life and ends embodied existence, guiding the pashu from bondage (pāśa) toward sat-gati—true refuge and liberation—so worship is not merely for worldly gain but for moksha.

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

Shiva is described as nitya (eternal) and kāla-kaṇṭha (the one who contains/devours time), indicating transcendence over time while also governing it; as kalādhara, he bears all powers and phases through which grace (anugraha) operates for the soul.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse supports Pashupata-oriented contemplation: meditating on Shiva as the controller of time and death (kāla) and taking refuge in him as sat-gati; in puja, it aligns with japa of these names to loosen pāśa (bondage) and cultivate right conduct (satkṛti).