Shloka 32

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

वीतरागो विनीतात्मा तपस्वीभूतभावनः । उन्मत्तवेषः प्रच्छन्नो जितकामोऽजितप्रियः

Transliteration

vītarāgo vinītātmā tapasvībhūtabhāvanaḥ | unmattaveṣaḥ pracchanno jitakāmo'jitapriyaḥ

Translation

Free from attachment, humble in spirit, and a great ascetic who sanctifies all beings, he moved about in the guise of a madman, remaining concealed. Having conquered desire, he was dear to the Unconquered Lord, Śiva.

Word by Word

• vīta-rāgaḥ: free from attachment
• vīta-rāgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vīta (कृदन्त, क्त; √vā/vi-? ‘to go away’) + rāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: vītaḥ rāgaḥ yasya (sense close to bahuvrīhi)

• vinīta-ātmā: one whose self is disciplined
• vinīta-ātmā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vinīta (कृदन्त, क्त; √nī with vi-) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: vinītaḥ ātmā yasya

• tapasvī-bhūta-bhāvanaḥ: one whose disposition has become ascetic
• tapasvī-bhūta-bhāvanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapasvī (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūta (कृदन्त, क्त; √bhū) + bhāvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: tapasvībhūtaḥ bhāvanaḥ (svabhāvaḥ) yasya

• unmatta-veṣaḥ: one with the guise of a madman
• unmatta-veṣaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: unmatta (प्रातिपदिक) + veṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: unmattaḥ veṣaḥ yasya

• pracchannaḥ: concealed/hidden
• pracchannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-chad (छद्/धातु) → pracchanna (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• jita-kāmaḥ: one who has conquered desire
• jita-kāmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jita (कृदन्त, क्त; √ji) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: jitaḥ kāmaḥ yasya

• ajita-priyaḥ: one dear to Ajita / having unconquered (i.e., steadfast) affection
• ajita-priyaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ajita (प्रातिपदिक) + priya (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ajitaḥ priyaḥ yasya (or ‘dear to Ajita’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; this verse functions as a sahasranāma-style characterization of Śiva’s ideal ascetic/avadhūta mode—hidden, desireless, and purifying.

Significance: Recitation cultivates vairāgya (dispassion) and inner humility, aligning the paśu (soul) toward Śiva’s anugraha through tapas and self-restraint.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the Shaiva ideal of a liberated seeker: inwardly detached, humble, and desireless, whose tapas purifies others and whose life is oriented to Śiva (Pati) rather than worldly display.

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

By portraying the devotee as “dear to Ajita (Śiva),” the verse implies that true Linga-worship is validated by inner transformation—conquest of kāma, humility, and steady renunciation—rather than mere outward marks.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice self-restraint and japa with a Shaiva focus (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), supporting it with tapas such as fasting/vrata and disciplined conduct that steadily reduces attachment and desire.