Shloka 53

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

बालखिल्यो महावीरस्तिग्मांशुर्बधिरः खगः । अभिरामः सुशरणः सुब्रह्मण्यः सुधापतिः

Transliteration

bālakhilyo mahāvīrastigmāṃśurbadhiraḥ khagaḥ | abhirāmaḥ suśaraṇaḥ subrahmaṇyaḥ sudhāpatiḥ

Translation

Er ist der Bālakhilya – subtil und asketisch; der große Held; der Strahlende mit durchdringenden Strahlen; der Stille; der Himmelswanderer. Er ist der Entzückende, die vortreffliche Zuflucht, der gnädige Beschützer der Frommen und der Brahmanen und der Herr des Nektars der Unsterblichkeit.

Word by Word

• बालखिल्यः: Bālakhilya (epithet/name)
• बालखिल्यः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बालखिल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम/विशेष-उपाधि

• महावीरः: great hero
• महावीरः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् वीरः)

• तिग्मांशुः: sharp-rayed (sun-like)
• तिग्मांशुः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिग्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (तिग्मः अंशुः)

• बधिरः: deaf
• बधिरः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बधिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• खगः: bird/sky-goer
• खगः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभिरामः: delightful/pleasing
• अभिरामः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिराम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुशरणः: excellent refuge
• सुशरणः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-शरणः = उत्तमं शरणम्)

• सुब्रह्मण्यः: very devoted to Brahmins/sacred lore
• सुब्रह्मण्यः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + ब्रह्मण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (सु-ब्रह्मण्यः = अत्यन्तं ब्रह्मण्यः)

• सुधापतिः: lord of nectar
• सुधापतिः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुधा (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सुधायाः पतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse presents Shiva as both transcendent and accessible: beyond the senses (“badhiraḥ” as silence beyond hearing) yet the sure refuge (“suśaraṇaḥ”). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such names guide the soul (paśu) to surrender to the Lord (Pati) who alone grants liberation.

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

These epithets are used as contemplative supports in Saguna worship—chanting and meditating on Shiva’s qualities while offering to the Linga. The names point from form to formless: the Linga is worshipped as the manifest sign of the Reality that is ultimately beyond sensory limitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Nama-japa and śaraṇāgati: chant Shiva’s names (or the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the attitude of taking refuge in him (“suśaraṇaḥ”), ideally alongside Linga-pūjā with water/abhisheka and mindful meditation on Shiva as the giver of amṛta (“sudhāpatiḥ”).