Shloka 48

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

अपांनिधिरधिष्ठानं विजयो जयकालवित् । प्रतिष्ठितः प्रमाणज्ञो हिरण्यकवचो हरिः

Transliteration

apāṃnidhiradhiṣṭhānaṃ vijayo jayakālavit | pratiṣṭhitaḥ pramāṇajño hiraṇyakavaco hariḥ

Translation

He is the treasure of waters and the abiding foundation; He is Victory itself, knowing the proper time for triumph. Ever firmly established, He knows the true measure and right authority; Hari (the Lord) is clad in golden armor.

Word by Word

• अपाम्: of waters
• अपाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; 'of waters'

• निधिः: treasure/reservoir
• निधिः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अधिष्ठानम्: support/abode
• अधिष्ठानम्: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विजयः: victory
• विजयः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जयकालवित्: knower of the time of victory
• जयकालवित्: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + काल (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: जयस्य कालं वेत्ति इति = knower of the time of victory

• प्रतिष्ठितः: established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + प्रति- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'well-established'

• प्रमाणज्ञः: knower of proofs/measure
• प्रमाणज्ञः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक) + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक; √ज्ञा से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: प्रमाणं जानाति इति = knower of valid means/measure

• हिरण्यकवचः: golden-armored
• हिरण्यकवचः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कवच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: हिरण्यं कवचं यस्य = having golden armor

• हरिः: Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिः: कर्ता/वर्ण्य (Subject/Described deity)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: ‘Apāṃ nidhi’ and ‘adhiṣṭhāna’ resonate with tīrtha and cosmic-support imagery, but the verse is not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga narrative here.

Significance: Contemplating Śiva as the hidden ‘treasure of waters’ and foundation supports steadiness (sthiti) and right discernment (pramāṇa-jñāna) in practice.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises the Lord as the stable foundation and the knower of right order (pramāṇa), implying that spiritual victory arises when devotion aligns with divine law—ultimately upheld by Shiva as Pati, the supreme governor of liberation.

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

In Jyotirlinga contexts, such epithets affirm Saguna divinity—God as approachable and protective—so the devotee worships the Linga as Shiva’s luminous presence while recognizing that all cosmic stability and victory are grounded in the Supreme.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate the Lord as the inner ‘adhiṣṭhāna’ (support) while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and offering water in Linga-pūjā, seeing the ‘treasure of waters’ as sanctified abhiṣeka that purifies and steadies the mind.