Shloka 9

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

दिव्यायुधः स्कंदगुरुः परमेष्ठीः परात्परः । अनादिमध्यनिधनो गिरीशो गिरिजाधवः

Transliteration

divyāyudhaḥ skaṃdaguruḥ parameṣṭhīḥ parātparaḥ | anādimadhyanidhano girīśo girijādhavaḥ

Translation

Er, dessen Waffen göttlich sind; der verehrte Lehrer Skandas; Paramēṣṭhī, der Höchste, über allem thronend; der Transzendente jenseits allen Transzendenten. Ohne Anfang, ohne Mitte, ohne Ende; Girīśa, Herr der Berge; und geliebter Gemahl der Girijā (Pārvatī).

Word by Word

• दिव्यायुधः: having divine weapons
• दिव्यायुधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव्य + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• स्कन्दगुरुः: teacher of Skanda
• स्कन्दगुरुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परमेष्ठी: the supreme ruler/dweller on high
• परमेष्ठी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमेष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परात्परः: higher than the highest
• परात्परः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परात् + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• अनादि-मध्य-निधनः: without beginning, middle, or end
• अनादि-मध्य-निधनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि + मध्य + निधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; (न आरम्भः, न मध्यं, न अन्तः)

• गिरीशः: Lord of the mountain(s)
• गिरीशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गिरिजाधवः: husband of Girijā (Pārvatī)
• गिरिजाधवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरिजा + धव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Purāṇic discourse style of the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Kedāranātha

Sthala Purana: Himālaya-associated Śiva as Girīśa; Kedāra tradition venerates Śiva as mountain-lord who grants refuge and steadiness to seekers; this verse’s Girīśa epithet aligns with that sthala-memory (not a direct citation).

Significance: Pilgrimage to Girīśa/Kedāra is held to purify karmic burdens and stabilize devotion through austerity and surrender.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse compresses key Shaiva Siddhānta themes: Śiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who is beyond all categories (parātparaḥ) yet graciously approachable through praise and devotion; His eternity (anādi–madhya–nidhana) affirms Him as the unconditioned reality who grants liberation (mokṣa).

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

These epithets describe Saguna Śiva—knowable through names, forms, and sacred symbols—while also pointing to His Nirguna transcendence (parātparaḥ). In Jyotirliṅga pilgrimage contexts of the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā, such praise supports liṅga-worship as a concrete focus for devotion to the limitless Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and stotra-recitation: meditate on Śiva as anādi–madhya–nidhana while chanting His names (e.g., Girīśa, Girijādhava) alongside Pañcākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), especially in Mahāśivarātri or Jyotirliṅga worship.