Mahabharata · 7.57.35–36
॥
Devanāgarī
सहस्रम् इव सूर्याणां दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ॥
शूलिनं जटिलं गौरं वल्कलाजिनवाससम् ॥
नयनानां सहस्रैश् च विचित्राङ्गं महौजसम् ॥
पार्वत्या सहितं देवं भूतसंघैश् च भास्वरैः ॥
Transliteration (IAST)
sahasram iva sūryāṇāṃ dīpyamānaṃ svatejasā ||
śūlinaṃ jaṭilaṃ gauraṃ valkalājinavāsasam ||
nayanānāṃ sahasraiś ca vicitrāṅgaṃ mahaujasam ||
pārvatyā sahitaṃ devaṃ bhūtasaṃghaiś ca bhāsvaraiḥ ||
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
सहस्रम् इव सूर्याणाम्sahasram iva sūryāṇāmlike a thousand suns; like a thousand suns
दीप्यमानम् स्वतेजसाdīpyamānam svatejasāblazing with his own radiance; blazing with his own splendor
शूलिनम् जटिलम् गौरम्śūlinam jaṭilam gauramwith a trident, with matted locks, fair; with a trident, matted-haired, fair-skinned
वल्कलाजिनवाससम्valkalājinavāsasamclad in bark and hides; clad in bark and hides
नयनानाम् सहस्रैः चnayanānām sahasraiḥ caand with a thousand eyes; and with a thousand eyes
विचित्राङ्गम् महौजसम्vicitrāṅgam mahaujasam[the god] of wondrous form, of great might; of wondrous form, of great might
पार्वत्या सहितम् देवम्pārvatyā sahitam devamthe god -- together with Parvati; the god -- together with Parvati
भूतसंघैः च भास्वरैःbhūtasaṃghaiḥ ca bhāsvaraiḥand with radiant hosts of beings; and with radiant hosts of spirits
Translation
[He saw the god] blazing with his own radiance like a thousand suns, bearing a trident, with matted locks, fair-skinned, clad in bark and hides; with a thousand eyes, of wondrous form, of great might -- the god together with Parvati and with radiant hosts of beings.
Version
38705e2e988e · published Jul 19, 2026, 3:36:52 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Shiva's form unites what cannot be united: 'sahasram iva suryanam dipyamanam,' radiant like a thousand suns -- and 'valkalajinavasasam,' clad in bark and hides, like a simple ascetic. The god of might and the god of renunciation in one image. It is telling that supreme power is clothed in an ascetic's humility. The verse teaches that true greatness needs no splendor: he who blazes like a thousand suns wears bark and hides; and power joined to renunciation shows the highest beauty -- might that seeks no outward glory.