Shloka 124

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

असंख्येयोऽप्रमेयात्मा वीर्यवान् वीर्यकोविदः । वेद्यश्च वै वियोगात्मा सप्तावरमुनीश्वरः

Transliteration

asaṃkhyeyo'prameyātmā vīryavān vīryakovidaḥ | vedyaśca vai viyogātmā saptāvaramunīśvaraḥ

Translation

Sein Wesen ist jenseits von Zahl und Maß; er besitzt höchste Kraft und kennt diese Kraft vollkommen. Er ist wahrlich der, der erkannt werden soll — und doch bleibt seine Natur stets unangehaftet, getrennt von allen begrenzenden Fesseln. Er ist der souveräne Herr der Weisen, der höchste Lenker aller Wesen, vom Unbewegten bis zum Bewegten.

Word by Word

• असंख्येयः: innumerable
• असंख्येयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + संख्येय (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त from √ख्यै/√ख्या)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अप्रमेयात्मा: whose nature is immeasurable
• अप्रमेयात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्रमेय + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (अप्रमेयः आत्मा यस्य सः)

• वीर्यवान्: powerful; possessing vigor
• वीर्यवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्यवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (possessive)

• वीर्यकोविदः: skilled in prowess
• वीर्यकोविदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्य + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वीर्ये कोविदः)

• वेद्यः: knowable
• वेद्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √विद् (धातु) → वेद्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः: विधातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive potential: 'to be known')

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

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चयार्थक/एवकारार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis)

• वियोगात्मा: whose nature is detachment/separation
• वियोगात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वियोग + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (वियोगः आत्मा यस्य सः / whose essence is separation)

• सप्तावरमुनीश्वरः: lord of the seven lower sages
• सप्तावरमुनीश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त + अवर + मुनि + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (सप्तानाम् अवराणां मुनीनां ईश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tatpuruṣa

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: The stress on immeasurability (aprameya), knowability as the supreme object (vedya), and lordship over all beings resonates with Kāśī’s Viśvanātha as ‘Lord of the Universe’—the one to be realized, beyond measure, sustaining all realms.

Significance: Kāśī darśana is traditionally linked with jñāna and mokṣa; this verse’s ‘vedya’ and ‘viyogātmā’ support the contemplative aim of knowing Śiva while becoming detached from pāśa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Shiva as Pati—the immeasurable Lord who transcends all limits, yet is the very Reality to be realized; liberation arises by knowing Him while remaining free from bondage (pāśa) through non-attachment (viyoga).

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

In Jyotirlinga devotion, the Linga is the accessible Saguna symbol through which the devotee approaches the Aprameya (immeasurable) Shiva; worship leads the mind from form to the formless Lord who remains unattached and sovereign over all.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate Shiva during Linga-puja as “asaṃkhyeya” and “aprameya,” repeating Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with inner detachment from desires; this aligns worship with viyoga (freedom from bonds) and supports moksha-oriented bhakti.