Shloka 46

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

स्पष्टाक्षरो बुधो मंत्रः समानः सारसंप्लवः । युगादिकृद्युगावर्तो गंभीरो वृषवाहनः

Transliteration

spaṣṭākṣaro budho maṃtraḥ samānaḥ sārasaṃplavaḥ | yugādikṛdyugāvarto gaṃbhīro vṛṣavāhanaḥ

Translation

He is the One whose syllables are perfectly clear—the Mantra itself, wise and discerning; ever even and impartial, a flood that bears the essence of the Vedas and all teachings. He is the maker of the beginnings of the ages and the turning cycle of the yugas; profound and unfathomable, the Rider of the Bull (Vṛṣavāhana).

Word by Word

• स्पष्टाक्षरः: clear-syllabled
• स्पष्टाक्षरः: विशेषण (Qualifier of मन्त्रः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्पष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: स्पष्टानि अक्षराणि यस्य/यः = clear-syllabled

• बुधः: wise
• बुधः: विशेषण (Qualifier of मन्त्रः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मन्त्रः: mantra
• मन्त्रः: कर्ता/वर्ण्य (Subject/Described entity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• समानः: equal/uniform
• समानः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• सारसंप्लवः: abounding in essence
• सारसंप्लवः: विशेषण/नाम (Predicate noun/epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सार (प्रातिपदिक) + संप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: सारस्य संप्लवः = overflow/abundance of essence

• युगादिकृत्: creator of the ages
• युगादिकृत्: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युगादि (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (कृ धातु से कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: युगादीन् करोति इति = maker of the ages etc.

• युगावर्तः: cycle of the ages
• युगावर्तः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युग (प्रातिपदिक) + आवर्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: युगस्य आवर्तः = cycle/turning of ages

• गंभीरः: deep/profound
• गंभीरः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गंभीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• वृषवाहनः: bull-mounted (having a bull as vehicle)
• वृषवाहनः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: वृषस्य वाहनः = whose vehicle is the bull

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse functions as a sahasranāma-style epithet cluster: Śiva as Mantra and as the yuga-cakra’s initiator, rather than a single shrine’s origin narrative.

Significance: Meditation on Śiva as the clear, self-revealing Mantra is presented as an inner-tīrtha: it purifies cognition and aligns the soul with dharma across the yuga-cycle.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Yuga-cakra (revolving ages) and their beginnings are explicitly invoked.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

This verse praises Shiva as Mantra in living form—perfectly clear, wise, and essence-bearing—showing that remembrance and recitation of His names leads the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation by the grace of the Lord (Pati) who governs time and its cycles.

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

Calling Shiva “vṛṣavāhana” and “mantraḥ” points to Saguna worship: the devotee approaches the formless Truth through accessible forms—Linga, sacred names, and iconography like Nandin—while recognizing Him as the profound source behind all cycles of creation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with clearly pronounced syllables (spaṣṭākṣara), especially Shiva-mantra recitation such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating Shiva as the inner Mantra and as the Lord of time, while offering devotion before the Linga.