Shloka 104

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

लोकबंधुर्लोकनाथः कृतज्ञः कृतिभूषितः । अनपायोऽक्षरः कांतः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरः

Transliteration

lokabaṃdhurlokanāthaḥ kṛtajñaḥ kṛtibhūṣitaḥ | anapāyo'kṣaraḥ kāṃtaḥ sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varaḥ

Translation

He is the kinsman of the worlds and the Lord of the worlds—grateful and adorned with noble deeds. Unfailing and imperishable, the Beloved, He is the foremost among all who bear weapons.

Word by Word

• लोक-बन्धुः: kinsman/friend of the world
• लोक-बन्धुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य बन्धुः)

• लोक-नाथः: lord of the world
• लोक-नाथः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + नाथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (लोकस्य नाथः)

• कृत-ज्ञः: grateful
• कृत-ज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत (कृ धातु-निष्पन्न/कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृतं जानाति/उपकारं वेत्ति)

• कृति-भूषितः: adorned with noble deeds/achievements
• कृति-भूषितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृति (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (भूष् धातु, क्त-कृदन्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कृतिभिः/कृत्या भूषितः)

• अनपायः: undeviating; unfailing
• अनपायः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-समासान्त-प्रातिपदिक (not departing)

• अक्षरः: imperishable
• अक्षरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कान्तः: beloved; beautiful
• कान्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-शस्त्र-भृताम्: of those who bear all weapons
• सर्व-शस्त्र-भृताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + भृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सर्वशस्त्राणि बिभ्रति ये तेषाम्)

• वरः: the best; excellent one
• वरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Tripurāntaka

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as Pati—the imperishable and unfailing Lord who remains close to the worlds as their protector, while also transcending them as the Akshara. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, it inspires surrender (śaraṇāgati) to the Lord whose grace uplifts the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

These epithets support Saguna-upāsanā: devotees approach Shiva through praise, name, and form—such as the Jyotirlinga—recognizing Him as Lokanātha and the supreme protector. The Linga signifies His imperishability (akṣaratva) while remaining accessible to devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is stotra-japa: recite these names of Shiva with the Panchakshara mantra ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), ideally with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and/or rudrākṣa, meditating on Him as the unfailing guardian of the worlds and the imperishable Self.