Shloka 121

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

परार्थवृत्तिर्वरदो विरक्तस्तु विशारदः । शुभदः शुभकर्ता च शुभनामा शुभः स्वयम्

Transliteration

parārthavṛttirvarado viraktastu viśāradaḥ | śubhadaḥ śubhakartā ca śubhanāmā śubhaḥ svayam

Translation

Er ist dem Wohl der anderen zugewandt und ein Spender von Gaben; ungebunden und von vollkommener Unterscheidungskraft. Er verleiht Heil und lässt heilsame Taten zur Vollendung gelangen; sein Name ist heilvoll — ja, er selbst ist das Heil.

Word by Word

• परार्थ-वृत्तिः: one whose conduct is for others’ welfare
• परार्थ-वृत्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (परस्य अर्थः = परार्थः; परार्थे वृत्तिः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वरदः: boon-giver
• वरदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• विरक्तः: detached/dispassionate
• विरक्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-रक्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त-आधारित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (detached)

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• विशारदः: skilled/learned
• विशारदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशारद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभदः: bestower of auspiciousness
• शुभदः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुभ-कर्ता: doer of good
• शुभ-कर्ता: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शुभं करोति); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• शुभ-नामाः: one of auspicious name
• शुभ-नामाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (शुभं नाम यस्य); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (नामन्-प्रातिपदिक से ‘नामाः’ प्रथमा एकवचन)

• शुभः: auspicious
• शुभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: आत्मवाचक अव्यय (reflexive adverb: ‘oneself’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s auspicious qualities to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a specific jyotirliṅga; the emphasis on vara-da (boon-giving) aligns broadly with jyotirliṅga pilgrimage narratives where darśana yields iṣṭa-siddhi and śubha.

Significance: Frames Śiva as śubha-svarūpa (auspiciousness itself), supporting the pilgrim’s faith that darśana and nāma-smaraṇa remove inauspiciousness and mature dharma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Shiva as Pati—the supremely auspicious Lord—whose nature is compassion for beings, whose grace grants boons, and whose detachment and discernment guide devotees toward liberation.

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

By praising Shiva’s auspicious name and qualities, it supports Saguna worship: devotees approach the Linga as the visible focus of the ever-auspicious Lord who grants śubha (welfare) and leads beyond bondage.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of Shiva’s auspicious name—especially the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—with a detached, welfare-oriented mind (parārtha-vṛtti) is the implied practice to receive śubha and inner clarity.