Shloka 42

देवैर्विष्णोः शरणागमनम्—शिवलिङ्गस्थापनं, शिवसहस्रनामस्तवः, सुदर्शनचक्रप्रदानं च

Devanagari script

नीतिः सुनीतिः शुद्धात्मा सोमः सोमरतः सुखी सोमपो ऽमृतपः सोमो महानीतिर्महामतिः

Transliteration

nītiḥ sunītiḥ śuddhātmā somaḥ somarataḥ sukhī somapo 'mṛtapaḥ somo mahānītirmahāmatiḥ

Translation

Er ist die rechte Ordnung selbst und die beste der Ordnungen; Er ist von reiner Seele. Er ist Soma—stets an Soma sich erfreuend—stets glückselig. Er ist der Soma-Trinker und der Trinker des Amṛta; Er ist wahrhaft Soma—von großer Regierungskunst und von weitreichender, souveräner Einsicht.

Word by Word

• नीतिः (nītiḥ): righteous order, wise governance

• सुनीतिः (sunītiḥ): excellent governance, perfect moral guidance

• शुद्धात्मा (śuddhātmā): pure-souled, stainless Self

• सोमः (somaḥ): Soma, the nectar/moon principle, auspicious essence

• सोमरतः (somarataḥ): devoted to Soma, delighting in the nectar-essence

• सुखी (sukhī): blissful, ever in happiness

• सोमपः (somapaḥ): Soma-drinker (receiver of Vedic offering)

• अमृतपः (amṛtapaḥ): drinker of immortality, bestower/partaker of deathlessness

• सोमो (somo): He is Soma Himself

• महानीतिः (mahānītiḥ): of great polity, supreme moral order

• महामतिः (mahāmatiḥ): great-minded, vast intelligence

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma

FAQs

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

It frames Shiva-as-Linga as the very principle of purity and right cosmic order (nīti), while also being the Soma-essence received through Vedic offering—linking inner purification and outer yajña into one Shaiva focus.

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

Shiva is presented as Śuddhātman (pure consciousness) and Pati (the sovereign intelligence) whose governance dissolves pasha (bondage) and stabilizes the pashu (soul) in sukha—bliss rooted in the immortal Soma-essence.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Ritually, it points to Soma-offering and Shiva’s acceptance as Somapa; yogically, it implies Pashupata discipline of śuddhi (purification) and alignment with nīti—right conduct and right order as a sādhanā.