Shloka 16

Devanagari script

ज्ञानशक्तिधरो वीरस्सर्वासुरविमर्दनः । गजावल्लीसमायुक्तस्सर्व्वैर्देवैर्नमस्कृतः

Transliteration

jñānaśaktidharo vīrassarvāsuravimardanaḥ | gajāvallīsamāyuktassarvvairdevairnamaskṛtaḥ

Translation

He is the heroic bearer of the power of true knowledge, the crusher of all asuras. Adorned with a garland of elephants, he is bowed to by all the gods.

Word by Word

• jñāna-śakti-dharaḥ: bearer of the power of knowledge
• jñāna-śakti-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + śakti (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'bearer of knowledge-power'

• vīraḥ: hero
• vīraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• sarva-asura-vimardanaḥ: crusher of all demons
• sarva-asura-vimardanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + vimardana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'crusher of all demons'

• gajā-vallī-samāyuktaḥ: adorned with gajāvallī
• gajā-vallī-samāyuktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gajā (प्रातिपदिक) + vallī (प्रातिपदिक) + samāyukta (सम्-युज् धातु + क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'endowed/connected with gajā-vallī (a creeper/garland named gajāvallī)'

• sarvaiḥ: by all
• sarvaiḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural; adjective qualifying devaiḥ

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• namaskṛtaḥ: saluted, worshipped
• namaskṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: namas-√kṛ (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; 'saluted'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

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

It praises the Lord as the holder of jñāna-śakti—knowledge that liberates—who destroys asuric forces, symbolizing the conquest of ignorance, ego, and bondage under Pati (the Lord).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva as the protectively manifest Lord who receives the Devas’ worship; Linga-worship similarly trains the devotee in reverence and surrender to the One who upholds dharma and removes hostile forces.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer namaskāra with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") while meditating on Shiva as jñāna-śakti-dhara—asking for the destruction of inner asuric impulses and the rise of steady devotion.