Shloka 30

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

धनुर्धरो धनुर्वेदो गुणः शशिगुणाकरः । सत्यस्सत्यपरोऽदीनो धर्मो गोधर्मशासनः

Transliteration

dhanurdharo dhanurvedo guṇaḥ śaśiguṇākaraḥ | satyassatyaparo'dīno dharmo godharmaśāsanaḥ

Translation

He is the Bearer of the bow and the very science of archery; he is Virtue itself, and the treasury of moonlike (cool, soothing) qualities. He is Truth, devoted to Truth, never fallen into distress; he is Dharma itself, the governor who upholds the righteous law.

Word by Word

• धनुर्धरः: bow-bearer
• धनुर्धरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √धृ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धनुः धरति इति), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धनुर्वेदः: Dhanurveda (science of archery)
• धनुर्वेदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धनुषः वेदः = archery-science), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गुणः: quality, virtue
• गुणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शशिगुणाकरः: mine of virtues like the moon
• शशिगुणाकरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शशि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुणाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (शशि-गुणाकरः: चन्द्र-सदृशः गुणाकरः / शशिरिव गुणाकरः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्यः: truthful; true
• सत्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सत्यपरः: devoted to truth
• सत्यपरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सत्ये परः = devoted to truth), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अदीनः: not dejected; undistressed
• अदीनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + दीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नञ्-समास/नकार-पूर्वक निषेध (privative a-), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर्मः: dharma; righteousness
• धर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• गोधर्मशासनः: governance/ordinance of the dharma of cows (protection of cattle)
• गोधर्मशासनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + शासन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (गो-धर्मस्य शासनः / गो-धर्म-शासनः), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse praises Shiva as the very foundation of Satya (Truth) and Dharma (Cosmic order). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such contemplation turns the mind from pasha (bondage) toward Pati (the Lord), cultivating steadiness, purity, and the grace-oriented path to liberation.

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

The verse presents Saguna Shiva—known through auspicious attributes like truth, serenity, and righteous governance—making Linga worship a concrete focus for devotion. The Linga becomes the sacred support (ālambana) for meditating on these divine qualities while recognizing Shiva as the inner ruler of dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa: recite these epithets of Shiva along with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and meditate on Satya and Dharma as Shiva’s presence within the heart—especially during Mahashivratri vrata, with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as supports if one follows that tradition.