Shloka 17

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

महर्षिकपिलाचार्यो विश्वदीप्तिस्त्रिलोचनः । पिनाकपाणिर्भूदेवः स्वस्तिदः स्वस्तिकृत्सुधीः

Transliteration

maharṣikapilācāryo viśvadīptistrilocanaḥ | pinākapāṇirbhūdevaḥ svastidaḥ svastikṛtsudhīḥ

Translation

He is the great sage and preceptor Kapila; the Radiance that illumines the universe; the Three‑eyed Lord. With the Pināka bow in His hand, He is the divine Lord of the earth; the giver of auspiciousness and the very maker of well‑being—wise and perfectly discerning.

Word by Word

• महर्षि-कपिल-आचार्यः: teacher of the sage Kapila
• महर्षि-कपिल-आचार्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + कपिल (प्रातिपदिक) + आचार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative)

• विश्व-दीप्तिः: world-illumination (universal radiance)
• विश्व-दीप्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दीप्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• त्रि-लोचनः: three-eyed one
• त्रि-लोचनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one who has three eyes)

• पिनाक-पाणिः: holder of the Pināka bow
• पिनाक-पाणिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिनाक (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one whose hand holds Pināka)

• भू-देवः: god of the earth
• भू-देवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू (प्रातिपदिक) + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• स्वस्ति-दः: giver of well-being
• स्वस्ति-दः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्ति (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + द (√दा धातु, प्रातिपदिक 'द' as agent-noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (giver of welfare)

• स्वस्ति-कृत्: maker of auspiciousness
• स्वस्ति-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वस्ति (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिकवत्) + कृत् (√कृ धातु, कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun)

• सुधीः: the wise one
• सुधीः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिकांश) + धी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (good + intellect)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse strings together Shiva’s sacred epithets to establish Him as Pati (the supreme Lord): the inner Light (viśvadīpti) who grants auspiciousness (svastida) and protects devotees, making remembrance of His names itself a purifying, grace-invoking act.

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

Though Jyotirlinga worship points to the limitless Light, this verse emphasizes Saguna Shiva—Trilocana and Pinakapani—so devotees can concentrate on a personal, protective form while understanding that the form expresses the same universal radiance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use these names as japa in a stotra-like recitation, mentally visualizing Trilocana Shiva as the radiant source of welfare; it may be paired with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple offerings in Jyotirlinga or home-linga worship.