Shloka 10

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

कुबेरबंधुः श्रीकंठो लोकवर्णोत्तमो मृदुः । समाधिवेद्यः कोदंडी नीलकंठः परस्वधीः

Transliteration

kuberabaṃdhuḥ śrīkaṃṭho lokavarṇottamo mṛduḥ | samādhivedyaḥ kodaṃḍī nīlakaṃṭhaḥ parasvadhīḥ

Translation

Er ist Kuberas Verbündeter und Freund, Śrīkaṇṭha, der Herr mit der glückverheißenden Kehle; die höchste Vortrefflichkeit, die in den Welten gepriesen wird, sanft in seiner Gnade. Durch Samādhi wird er erkannt; er ist Kodaṇḍī, der Bogenträger, Nīlakaṇṭha, der Blaukehlige, und der Träger der höchsten Axt: Śiva, Befreier der gebundenen Seelen.

Word by Word

• कुबेरबन्धुः: Kubera’s friend/kinsman
• कुबेरबन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता/सम्बोधन-रहितः प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुबेरस्य बन्धुः)

• श्रीकण्ठः: Śrīkaṇṭha (the glorious-throated one)
• श्रीकण्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (श्रीमान् कण्ठः)

• लोकवर्णोत्तमः: best among the colors/complexions of the worlds (most excellent in appearance)
• लोकवर्णोत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लोक + वर्ण + उत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य वर्णः—तस्य उत्तमः)

• मृदुः: gentle/soft
• मृदुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मृदु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समाधिवेद्यः: knowable through samādhi
• समाधिवेद्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाधि + वेद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया/साधन-तत्पुरुष (समाधिना वेद्यः = knowable through samādhi)

• कोदण्डी: bearer of the bow (kodaṇḍa)
• कोदण्डी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोदण्डिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त (धनुर्धर-विशेषः)

• नीलकण्ठः: Nīlakaṇṭha (blue-throated)
• नीलकण्ठः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नील + कण्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (नीलः कण्ठः यस्य)

• परस्वधीः: one bearing the supreme axe/weapon
• परस्वधीः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + स्वधी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (परः स्वधीः/स्वधा-युक्तः—परशु/कुठारधारी इत्यर्थे)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Tryambakeśvara is famed for Śiva’s protective grace and the ‘three-eyed’ sovereignty; this verse’s samādhi-vedya and Nīlakaṇṭha epithets align with the contemplative and salvific memory of that kṣetra (not a direct quotation).

Significance: Associated with inner purification and release from heavy karmas through worship and contemplation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Samudra-manthana aftermath implied by Nīlakaṇṭha (poison held in throat)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kubera

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

This verse functions as a praise-list of Śiva’s names, teaching that the compassionate Lord who protects the cosmos is also the inner Reality realized in samādhi—showing Shaiva Siddhanta’s emphasis on Pati (Śiva) as both gracious and transcendent, granting liberation to the bound soul (paśu).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

The epithets (Śrīkaṇṭha, Nīlakaṇṭha, Kodaṇḍī) support saguna-upāsanā: devotees meditate on Śiva’s auspicious forms and deeds while worshiping the Liṅga as His ever-present symbol, through which the mind becomes fit for deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The phrase “samādhivedyaḥ” points to dhyāna leading to samādhi; practically, one may combine Liṅga-pūjā with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), steady breath-awareness, and Tripuṇḍra-bhasma/Rudrākṣa observances to stabilize devotion and concentration.