Shloka 114

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

अर्थोऽनर्थो महाकोश परकायैकपंडित । निष्कंटकः कृतानंदो निर्व्याजो व्याजमर्दनः

Transliteration

artho'nartho mahākośa parakāyaikapaṃḍita | niṣkaṃṭakaḥ kṛtānaṃdo nirvyājo vyājamardanaḥ

Translation

He is prosperity and the remover of misfortune, the great treasury. He is the peerless sage who knows all embodied beings. He is without thorns—free of all afflictions—bestowing fulfilled bliss; utterly guileless, and the crusher of hypocrisy and deceit.

Word by Word

• अर्थः: meaning; purpose; wealth
• अर्थः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अनर्थः: misfortune; uselessness
• अनर्थः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन् + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-निषेध (non-purpose/misfortune)

• महाकोशः: great treasury/store
• महाकोशः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् कोशः)

• परकायैकपण्डितः: the sole expert in others’ bodies (i.e., knowing all bodies)
• परकायैकपण्डितः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर + काय + एक + पण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (परकाये एकः पण्डितः)

• निष्कण्टकः: thornless; obstacle-free
• निष्कण्टकः: विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + कण्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्ग-निः (without thorns/obstacles)

• कृतानन्दः: one whose bliss is accomplished; blissful
• कृतानन्दः: विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृत + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (कृतः आनन्दः यस्य / कृत-आनन्दः)

• निर्व्याजः: guileless; without pretext
• निर्व्याजः: विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + व्याज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निः-उपसर्ग (without deceit/pretext)

• व्याजमर्दनः: crusher of deceit
• व्याजमर्दनः: विशेषण (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याज + मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्याजस्य मर्दनः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; the verse is a moral-spiritual characterization: Śiva as the true ‘treasury’ (mahākośa) who grants real artha (purpose) while destroying anartha and hypocrisy (vyāja).

Significance: General fruit: supports inner purification (anti-hypocrisy), removal of obstacles (niṣkaṇṭaka), and attainment of ānanda grounded in Śiva rather than in binding artha.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as both the giver of true artha (right purpose and auspiciousness) and the remover of anartha (bondage, suffering, and misdirected desire). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this points to Pati (Shiva) freeing the pashu (soul) from pasha (bonds) and establishing it in fulfilled bliss.

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

These epithets support Saguna worship: the devotee approaches the Linga as the tangible refuge where obstacles are cut away (niṣkaṇṭaka) and inner duplicity is destroyed (vyājamardana). Through sincere puja, Shiva’s grace turns worldly aims into dharmic artha and ultimately toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice worship with nirvyāja-bhakti (unpretentious sincerity): daily Linga-abhiṣeka with mantra-japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” applying Tripuṇḍra bhasma and wearing Rudrākṣa as reminders to uproot hypocrisy and keep the mind thornless—free of harmful impulses.