Shloka 12

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

उग्रः पशुपतिस्तार्क्ष्यः प्रियभक्तः परंतपः । दाता दयाकरो दक्षः कर्मंदीः कामशासनः

Transliteration

ugraḥ paśupatistārkṣyaḥ priyabhaktaḥ paraṃtapaḥ | dātā dayākaro dakṣaḥ karmaṃdīḥ kāmaśāsanaḥ

Translation

He is Ugra, the awe-inspiring Lord; Paśupati, the Master of bound souls; swift and mighty like Tārkṣya; the One who holds His devotee most dear; the chastiser of hostile forces. He is the Giver, the embodiment of compassion, perfectly capable and skillful; the One whose intelligence is ever engaged in right action; and the Controller of desire.

Word by Word

• उग्रः: fierce
• उग्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• पशुपतिः: Lord of beings (Paśupati)
• पशुपतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु-पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठीतत्पुरुषः ‘पशूनां पतिः’

• तार्क्ष्यः: Tārkṣya
• तार्क्ष्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तार्क्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषण-रूपेण (Tārkṣya/Garuḍa-related epithet)

• प्रियभक्तः: dear devotee / devoted beloved
• प्रियभक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘प्रियः भक्तः’ / ‘भक्तप्रियः’ अर्थसाम्य

• परंतपः: scorcher of foes
• परंतपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम्-तप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘परान् तपयति’ (foe-scorcher)

• दाता: giver
• दाता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः तृच्-प्रत्ययान्त (Agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘giver’

• दयाकरः: compassionate / source of mercy
• दयाकरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दया-कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘दयां करोति’ / ‘दयायाः आकरः’ (source of compassion)

• दक्षः: skilful
• दक्षः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कर्मन्दीः: duty-minded / intent on action
• कर्मन्दीः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कर्मन्-धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘कर्मणि धीः यस्य’ (one whose intellect is in action/duty-minded)

• कामशासनः: controller of desire
• कामशासनः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम-शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः ‘कामं शास्ति’ (subduer of desire)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s praise within the Kotirudra Saṃhitā to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Paśupati)

FAQs

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

This verse presents Shiva as Paśupati—the supreme Pati who liberates the paśu (bound soul) from pāśa (bondage). His fierceness (ugra) destroys ignorance and obstacles, while his compassion (dayākara) grants grace, making bhakti a direct means toward moksha in the Shaiva Siddhanta vision.

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

These epithets are Saguna descriptions that support Linga-worship: the Linga is revered as the compassionate yet powerful Lord who grants boons, protects devotees, and disciplines desire. Meditating on such names while worshipping the Jyotirlinga or household Linga internalizes Shiva’s role as Pati guiding the soul.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with the intent to restrain kāma (desire). During Linga-pūjā, offer water/bilva while contemplating Shiva as dayākara (compassion) and kāmaśāsana (controller of desire), aligning action (karman-dhīḥ) with dharma.