Shloka 14

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

उत्तरो गोपतिर्गोप्ता ज्ञानगम्यः पुरातनः । नीतिः सुनीतिः शुद्धात्मा सोमः सोमरतः सुखी

Transliteration

uttaro gopatirgoptā jñānagamyaḥ purātanaḥ | nītiḥ sunītiḥ śuddhātmā somaḥ somarataḥ sukhī

Translation

He is the Supreme Uplifter—the Lord of all beings and their Protector—knowable through true knowledge, the Ancient One. He is Dharma itself and perfect right conduct, pure in essence. He is Soma, delighting in Soma, ever abiding in bliss.

Word by Word

• उत्तरः: higher; northern; superior
• उत्तरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• गोपतिः: lord of cows (protector of beings)
• गोपतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गवां पतिः)

• गोप्ता: protector
• गोप्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुप् (धातु) + तृ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक-नाम (agent noun)

• ज्ञानगम्यः: knowable through knowledge
• ज्ञानगम्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान + गम्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (गम् धातोः) ‘गम्य’ = ‘to be reached/known’; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थः (ज्ञानेन गम्यः)

• पुरातनः: ancient
• पुरातनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुरातन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• नीतिः: right conduct; policy
• नीतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुनीतिः: good conduct
• सुनीतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु + नीति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सु-नीतिः = उत्तमा नीतिः)

• शुद्धात्मा: pure-souled
• शुद्धात्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुद्ध + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; आत्मन्-शब्दः; कर्मधारयः (शुद्धः आत्मा यस्य/शुद्ध आत्मा)

• सोमः: Soma; the Moon
• सोमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सोमरतः: delighting in Soma
• सोमरतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सोम + रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सप्तमी/विषय-तत्पुरुषसदृशः (सोमे रतः/सोमे रतिः यस्य)

• सुखी: happy
• सुखी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुखिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषणम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Tryambakeśvara

Sthala Purana: Śiva as the protector (goptā) and source of purifying knowledge aligns with Tryambakeśvara’s association with liberation and the sanctifying origin of the Godāvarī.

Significance: Sought for purification, guidance in dharma (nīti/sunīti), and jñāna leading toward release from pāśa.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Soma

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as Pati (Lord and Protector), reachable through jñāna (right spiritual knowledge) and characterized by śuddhatva (purity). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, meditating on these qualities strengthens surrender to Pati, loosening pāśa (bondage) and guiding the soul toward liberation.

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

These names function as dhyāna-epithets for Saguna Shiva worship: the devotee contemplates Shiva’s protective lordship (gopati, goptā) and purity (śuddhātmā) while offering to the Linga, recognizing the Linga as the accessible form through which the Ancient, transcendent Lord is approached.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use the verse as a nāma-dhyāna during Linga-pūjā: chant Om Namaḥ Śivāya, then mentally repeat these epithets while offering water/milk (Soma symbolism) and focusing on Shiva as the inner bliss (sukhī) and purifier (śuddhātmā).