Shloka 108

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

परः शिवो वसुर्नासासारो मानधरो यमः । ब्रह्मा विष्णुः प्रजापालो हंसो हंसगतिर्वयः

Transliteration

paraḥ śivo vasurnāsāsāro mānadharo yamaḥ | brahmā viṣṇuḥ prajāpālo haṃso haṃsagatirvayaḥ

Translation

He is the Supreme—Shiva Himself: the radiant Vasu, the very essence of the life-breath in the nostrils, the bearer of honor, and Yama, the cosmic regulator. He is also Brahmā and Viṣṇu, protector of creatures; He is the Haṃsa (the supreme Self) and the movement of the Haṃsa—indeed, He is Time/age itself.

Word by Word

• paraḥ: supreme, transcendent
• paraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• śivaḥ: Śiva
• śivaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• vasuḥ: Vasu (a deity/wealth)
• vasuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• nāsā-sāraḥ: essence of the nose (i.e., vital essence)
• nāsā-sāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāsā (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative): ‘नासायाः सारः’

• māna-dharaḥ: bearer of honor
• māna-dharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māna (प्रातिपदिक) + dhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मानं धरति’/‘मानस्य धरः’

• yamaḥ: Yama (lord of death)
• yamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• brahmā: Brahmā
• brahmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेष-रूप (irregular nominative)

• viṣṇuḥ: Viṣṇu
• viṣṇuḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• prajā-pālaḥ: protector of creatures
• prajā-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prajā (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘प्रजायाः पालः’

• haṃsaḥ: swan; Haṃsa
• haṃsaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• haṃsa-gatiḥ: the swan’s movement/way
• haṃsa-gatiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: haṃsa (प्रातिपदिक) + gati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘हंसस्य गतिः’

• vayaḥ: age; vigor
• vayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma
• Vishnu
• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse declares Shiva as Para (Supreme Reality) who pervades and governs all cosmic functions—creation, preservation, restraint, and the flow of life-breath—affirming the Shaiva Siddhanta view of Shiva as Pati, the ultimate Lord behind all powers.

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

By identifying Shiva with Brahma, Vishnu, Yama, and the Haṃsa-principle, the verse teaches that Saguna worship (including Linga worship) is a focused doorway to the all-pervading Shiva who is simultaneously transcendent (Para) and immanent in every divine function.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the Haṃsa within the breath (prāṇa): steady inhalation-exhalation with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to recognize the Lord as the inner regulator of time, life, and liberation.